HE may have been on the comedy circuit for more than 30 years, but there are always new ways to entertain an audience.

So when larger-than-life comic Lenny Henry appears at the Parr Hall this month, he will do so complete with piano - and some shaky grade three skills.

Cradle to the Rave promises fans of the Comic Relief creator a trip through Lenny’s life in music.
From his childhood in Birmingham, through taking albums in his boot as a green stand up in the 1970s, to learning piano with his daughter, right up to listening to Ice Cube during intermission as he played Othello, music has always been central for Lenny - as he told the Warrington Guardian.

“Music is a really important part of our lives from our birth, to marriage and deaths, it plays a vital role.

“And the show reflects that. There will be traditional stand-up but also a bit of me singing and a first of hearing me play a musical instrument.

“My daughter and I started on the same day when she was seven. She would do anything but play on the piano, adjust her seat or play with her hair and I would be going through my scales.

“But now 12 years later she can play like Ray Charles and I'm still on grade three - but I will be giving it a go on stage,” he said.

The 52-year-old won critical acclaim perfoming the lead role in Othello - and it was here that another line for the tour was born.

While in his dressing room at the interval, he was firing himself up for the second half by listening to controversial rapper Ice Cube - when one of his fellow actors gave him a nudge.
“He said ‘Lenny, the second half has started’ and my eyes nearly popped out of my head like a cartoon character as I ran to the stage.

“But that shows how important music is - I would have missed the whole second half listening to it if it had been left to me”, he said.

The show takes place on Thursday, January 27 BUY NOW!