�An award-winning actor who has appeared in TV shows such as Shameless and Coronation Street is bringing his one-man show about comedy duo Laurel and Hardy to the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.

Craig Shepherd plays the role of Stan Laurel in The Fiddle and the Bow.

Together with Ian McHale, Craig wrote the script which charts the life of the comedy legends.

The show is at the theatre in Billet Lane, on Wednesday, August 22, and is set on Oscar awards night as Laurel reminisces about life as one half of the renowned comic act, journeying through the duo’s early life and careers.

The inspiration for the show comes from Craig’s love of Laurel and Hardy films.

He said: “I have always been a fan of Laurel and Hardy. I think it is because it’s so universal and has not been dated at all.

“It is the simplicity of them being together.”

During research for the script he watched the duo’s films and read their biographies, but the actor, who won the Best Male Act award at Camden’s Solo Festival last year, insists he was very meticulous with how he portrayed the story.

He said: “What I wanted to make clear is that I didn’t just lift dialogue out the biography because people might as well just read the book.

“I wrote it along the lines of how I imagined Stan would do it. What I wanted to do was get Stan’s point of view.

“What I tried to do is get to the heart of what Laurel and Hardy were about; friendship and good team work. In my opinion they were the greatest double act ever.”

The Hornchurch show will be his debut performance at the theatre and he admits that he is nervous, but the adrenalin gives him the buzz to perform.

He said: “I would like to get the show to Edinburgh but I need funding for that. I would also like to make a show about the life of Laurel and Hardy. That would be one of my dreams.”

Tickets cost �9 from the box office on 01708 443333 or online via www.queens-theatre.co.uk.