Dinnerladies dishing up big laughs at the Liverpool Empire in 2027

Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies are on their way to the Liverpool Empire as part of a new stage adaptation of the much-loved TV sitcom.

The show will be cooking up a storm at the Lime Street theatre from July 13-17 next year.

Tickets go on general sale this Friday, July 3 at 10am.

The new touring stage adaptation - commissioned by the Victoria Wood Estate, written by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne and directed by Sean Foley - will feature the original TV characters in a storyline inspired by the TV episodes.

And the first casting has been announced, with Liverpool’s Les Dennis set to play maintenance man Stan (the role originally played by Duncan Preston on television).

Set in the canteen of a Manchester factory, the award-winning dinnerladies ran from 1998 to 2000 and regularly drew TV audiences of up to 12 million.

A spokesman for the Victoria Wood Estate, said: “Were 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.”

Les 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.”

Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies is at the Liverpool Empire from July 13-17, 2027. Tickets HERE