The Onion at the End

Winner of the Terence Rattigan Society Award for a New Play for the Theatre

Based on a true story, The Onion at the End is set in the early 1930s and takes place over the course of a pantomime season in Birkenhead and a summer variety season in Southport, Lancashire.

Jimmy, a song-and-dance man and Bob, a comedian, have little in common except a shared dressing room. With work scarce, when opportunity knocks they decide there’s nothing for it but to team up as a comedy double act – First & Last.

The twist to the duo’s rise up the comedy ladder is set in motion by the Liverpudlian owner of the theatre in which they are performing. Unhappy with the comics’ act, he gives them an extraordinary take-it-or-leave-it proposal. They must speak in rhyme when offstage – until such time as he is satisfied with their progress. With work at a premium and dole queues everywhere, what choice do they have? And as if all this is not difficult enough for Jimmy and Bob, they have to contend with their theatrical landlady – in rhyme.