Michael Palin will be embarking on one of his most wide-ranging and equally close-to-home journeys as he sets off around the UK for his 2014 tour, looking back on 25 years travelling the globe. The tour is scheduled to coincide with the publication of the third volume of his diary, but with 21 destination throughout the UK, including the likes of Crawley, Southsea and Northampton, it’s a long way fro some of his more epic adventures around the world.
While it’s not strictly speaking a stand-up comedy show as such, it’s definitely a rare opportunities to get to see the legendary Monty Python comedian live. While this will inevitably feature an element of autobiographical dialogue, the reality is that it will also be one of the funniest tours of the year, and from the look of the poster artwork above, the lumberjack will be getting in on the action in some shape or form.
The Michael Palin tour 2014 kicks off on the 7th September at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley, and travels throughout the UK in September and October, including stop offs in London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. It will then come to a close at The Crucible in Sheffield, giving Palin a pretty busy Autumn at the ripe old age of 71.
The show will be split into two halves, with the first focusing on his globe trotting adventures during the late eighties and into the nineties, taking in Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days in 1989, Pole to Pole in 1992 and Full Circle with Michael Palin 1997. To bring his adventures to life on stage, his comic ramblings will be accompanied by general stick pointing at a variety of specially selected photos and video footage shot during the eight BBC TV travel series that he worked on.
The second half sees Michael looking back on the other element of his life that he’s know for, his comedy. Having been a part of Monty Python’s Flying Circus since 1969 he’s had a lot of time to fine tune his comic timing and surreal humour since his childhood in Sheffield during the 40s and 50s. Palin has also starred in a pretty hefty back catalogue of movies too, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, Brazil, A Fish Called Wanda and Arthur Christmas, so hopefully this will be a feature of the show too.
The 2014 tour celebrates the publication of volume three of Michael Palin’s Diaries, entitled Travelling to Work 1988-1998, in which he covers his time travelling the globe with the BBC. It’s being release on the 11th September 2014, but with his ongoing support of independent bookshops, there will be signed copies of the new volume of his Diaries at the theatre on the night of the show from a selection of them for each city.
Michael Palin tour 2014:
7th September 2014 – Crawley, Hawth Theatre – Call 01293 553636 to book tickets
8th September 2014 – St Albans, Alban Arena – Call 01727 844488 to book tickets
9th September 2014 – London, QEH – Call 0844 875 0073 to book tickets
12th September 2014 – Glasgow, Theatre Royal – Call 0844 871 7647 to book tickets
13th September 2014 – Aberdeen, Music Hall – Call 01224 641122 to book tickets
14th September 2014 – Inverness, Eden Court – Call 01463 234234 to book tickets
16th September 2014 – Edinburgh, King’s Theatre – Call 0131 529 6000 to book tickets
19th September 2014 – Southsea, King’s Theatre – Call 023 9282 8282 to book tickets
20th September 2014 – Guildford, G Live – Call 0844 7701 797 to book tickets
21st September 2014 – Cardiff, St David’s Hall – Call 029 2087 8444 to book tickets
22nd September 2014 – Bristol, Colston Hall – Call 0844 887 1500 to book tickets
28th September 2014 – York, Opera House – Call 0844 871 3024 to book tickets
29th September 2014 – Manchester, Opera House – Call 0844 871 3018 to book tickets
30th September 2014 – Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre – Call 0844 871 3011 to book tickets
3rd October 2014 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange – Call 01223 357851 to book tickets
4th October 2014 – Southend, Palace Theatre – Call 01702 351135 to book tickets
5th October 2014 – Northampton, Royal & Derngate Theatre – Call 01604 624811 to book tickets
7th October 2014 – Brighton, Theatre Royal – Call 0844 871 7650 to book tickets
11th October 2014 – Liverpool, Auditorium – Call 0844 8000 400 to book tickets
20th October 2014 – London, Palace Theatre – Call 0844 412 4656 to book tickets
22nd October 2014 – Sheffield, Crucible – Call 0114 249 6000 to book tickets
