Victorian display is a joke

9:14am Friday 19th January 2007

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A recently discovered Victorian joke book will provide material for a display of comedy from the era at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool.

Students from the University of Manchester will be dressing as clowns and performing their show, Fools and Horses: The Victorian Clown on Thursday January 25.

The joke book was discovered by Dr Ann Featherstone, the drama lecturer at the university, who will also be giving a talk on Victorian clowns and circuses. It will be the first performance of material from the joke book since it was lost in 1876.

The book belonged to a real-life Victorian clown, Thomas Lawrence, and includes 200 gags that aimed to amuse audiences at the 19th century circuses.

Grand Theatre manager, Paul Iles, said: "The talk will appeal to enthusiasts and students of variety theatre and heritage and all those who dream of running away to the circus."

Dr Featherstone added: "This is an afternoon of Victorian comedy and offers unique insight on the origins of popular entertainment.

" The joke book is the equivalent to the late Bob Monkhouse's beloved gag book which was famously stolen a few years ago.

"Tom Lawrence worked throughout the country but mainly in the Midlands and the Black Country. However, he could very well have performed at the circus which actually stood on the site of the Blackpool Grand from 1889."

Fools and Horses: The Victorian Clown will be at the Grand Theatre at 2.30pm on Thursday January 25. Admission will be by donation to the Glorious Grand Restoration: the Sam Lee Appeal. For information call 01253 290190.