Victoria Wood’s beloved sitcom Dinnerladies will return with a new stage adaptation, more than 25 years after it debuted on television.
The stage show has been commissioned by the estate of the late comedian, a first since her death in 2016 at the age of 62.
It will star Les Dennis as maintenance man Stan, with the full cast of Dinnerladies to be announced.
The show will feature a story inspired by the original TV series, and will bring back Stan, Bren, Tony, Dolly, Jean, Twinkle, Anita and all the characters from the Manchester canteen.
The sitcom, created, written and co-produced by Wood, aired on the BBC from 1998 to 2000 and starred Wood, Thelma Barlow, Maxine Peake, Shobna Gulati and Anne Reid.
The series is set almost entirely in the canteen of HWD Components, a fictional factory in Manchester, and followed the lives, friendships and workplace dramas of the staff and regulars who gathered there every day.
Dennis will play Stan, the role played on TV by Duncan Preston, the opinionated but well-meaning maintenance man who is responsible for cleaning the factory and fixing equipment.
The show has appeared on lists of best British sitcoms and was nominated for two Baftas.
It is not the first play based on the series. Another show premiered in London in April 2009, based on three episodes of the second series of the TV show, and concentrated on the romance between Wood’s character Bren and her suitor Tony.
Another show called Dinnerladies: Second Helpings toured in 2011 with a new script.
Adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne, the new play will be directed by Sean Foley and will premiere in 2027, with tickets on sale this week.
The Victoria Wood Estate said in a statement: “We are delighted to be bringing the joy of Victoria Wood’s much-loved classic Dinnerladies back to the nation after more than 25 years.
“We hope that this new stage adaptation by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne and directed by Sean Foley – featuring a story inspired by the original TV series – will take theatre-goers across the UK straight back to the delights of the canteen and characters they grew to love.”
Dennis added: “I’m so thrilled to be on board with this new production of Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies.
“I’m lucky enough to say I knew Victoria – she and I performed on the comedy circuit in the 1970s and were both finalists on New Faces.
“I was always such a fan of her – both as a person, and as a comedic voice. Being part of this tour and seeing these beloved northern working-class characters brought to the stage is a perfect way to keep her legacy alive.
“I’m the first cast member to be announced as Stan, and I can’t wait to see which fantastic actresses will be bringing these amazing Dinnerladies characters to life – they’re all such fantastic roles.
“I think fans of Victoria will be in for a real treat after hearing director Sean Foley’s plans for this tour!”
The tour will kick off at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on January 22 2027 before a run at the Manchester Opera House and a national tour.
