Step Behind The Stage
The Last Laugh
New Theatre, Peterborough - 04/08/2026
Review by Daniel Marshall
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse. Three names that sit at the very top of British comedy's Mount Rushmore, each a giant of their craft and each a man whose story extended far beyond the laughs they generated. Paul Hendy's The Last Laugh brings all three together in a single dressing room before a show, using that deceptively simple setup as a springboard for jokes, reminiscence and genuine reflection on what it truly means to be funny. It is a play that is intentionally light on plot, with conversation, banter and lovingly recreated routines forming the backbone rather than narrative progression, and in the right hands that is more than enough.
Those hands belong to three exceptional performers. Damian Williams' Tommy Cooper is a masterclass in physical instinct, where even the smallest gesture draws a laugh, capturing the man's unique ability to make chaos feel completely deliberate. Steve Royle brings Eric Morecambe to life with a warmth that feels completely natural, the trademark glasses flick and musical playfulness landing with an ease that speaks to years of inhabiting the role. Simon Cartwright's Monkhouse is perhaps the most technically precise of the three, leaning into the polished delivery and dry wit with meticulous detail that makes him immediately recognisable. What lifts all three performances above simple impression work is the way each actor builds a fully rounded personality rather than a sketch. The familiar mannerisms are present and affectionately rendered, but beneath them are three layered portrayals rather than caricatures.
The jokes themselves range from classic groaners to physical bits and musical interludes, with familiar routines including the duck trick, ukulele ditties and joke-book riffs recreated with genuine affection. Those already familiar with Cooper, Morecambe and Monkhouse will find themselves smiling before punchlines even land, but crucially the show never relies entirely on prior knowledge. Even for those coming to these comedians fresh, the timing and delivery ensure the humour works on its own terms, and if anything the show serves as a wonderful gateway to three of the greatest comic minds this country has ever produced.
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
For me though, the biggest surprise with The Last Laugh was how deftly it balanced comedy and emotion. This is not simply a greatest hits package. Hendy weaves in the personal struggles each man faced throughout his life, the health issues, the private regrets and the quiet vulnerabilities, allowing them to surface briefly and meaningfully in the spaces between the laughs. Lee Newby's set design is integral to all of this. The cramped, shabby dressing room, filled with props, clippings, headshots and period detail, becomes something greater than its surroundings. Part backstage, part memorial and part limbo, it is a space that carries real weight as the show progresses. Johanna Town's lighting design complements it beautifully, shifting from the claustrophobic warmth of backstage to full performance lighting as the trio turn to face the audience.
The performance itself unfolds across a single act, but the evening does not end when the curtain falls. An act two Q&A with the cast follows, providing the chance to reflect on their long-term connections to these roles and share insights into the men behind the legends. Hearing that conversation, with such evident passion and knowledge behind it, only deepens the connection you feel to the show you have just witnessed. It was a really unique way to end a show that feels as much a celebration of the routines as it does the remarkable men behind them, bringing to an end a night that will have you laughing and reflecting in equal measure.
Cast on the Night:
Damian Williams – Tommy Cooper
Steve Royle – Eric Morecambe
Simon Cartwright – Bob Monkhouse