Express & Star

Review: The Office, Dudley Little Theatre

The antics of self-styled 'chilled out entertainer' and cringeworthy paper firm boss David Brent had a Black Country audience in stitches as an amateur drama group recreated three classic sitcom episodes.

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Dudley Little Theatre brought The Office to the stage for the first time last night after winning approval from the show's creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

And the roars of laughter from the audience at Netherton Arts Centre were proof that the cast had tapped into the comedy's magic.

Express & Star advertising worker Dave Hutchins showed impeccable comic timing in his energetic turn as Brent – and the similarity to Gervais was uncanny.

Rather than transforming the TV show into a traditional play, the group managed to keep the mockumentary feel by using a camera and sound man on stage following the characters around.

Some of the biggest laughs were saved for famous scenes such as Tim's stapler in the jelly practical joke and the investigation Gareth conducts after a pornographic picture of Brent is circulated, prompting the classic line that he sees 'Milligan, Cleese, Everett and Sessions' as geniuses rather than Newton and Einstein.

The TV show was never full of belly laughs but built up momentum as each episode progressed, and director Pru Warne has managed to transfer that to the stage. Without the shaky cameras and sly sideways glances, the actors are more exposed but they pull off subtle performances, having studied the characters' verbal tics and mannerisms.

The one-on-one interviews are replaced with the actors addressing the audience from the front of the stage.

It was obvious that many of the audience members knew the episodes almost off by heart and were enjoying reliving their favourite scenes.

The third episode performed last night – the final one in the first series – culminated in an awkward confrontation at the office party as it emerges Brent has lied about his promotion and the threat of redundancies. The TV series may have appeared to sound the death knell for more traditional sitcoms in front of audiences and with canned laughter.

But Dudley Little Theatre's inventive production showed it can work just as well

The show will be at the centre, in Northfield Road, until Saturday night.

Adam Burling

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