A whole lotta buffoonery!

A Coronation Street star helped members of the Creative and Support Therapy group at East Lancashire Hospice learn their lines ahead of their Christmas performance.

Peter Gunn, who plays Brian Packham in Coronation Street, spent time with the cast of the show.

Characters in the ‘A whole lotta buffoonery’ show included Dick Turpin, Prince Charles, George and the Dragon and Elvis. The 16-strong cast included staff, and members of CaST -  – a group made up of past and present patients at the hospice.

Not only did Peter help them to learn their lines, he also gave them some tips and tricks of the trade to help with stage fright and audience engagement.

Debbie Parker, Lead Practitioner for CaST, played the part of Elvis in the show, written by patient Margaret Greenwood, who was unable to attend due to illness.

She said: “We can’t thank Peter enough for taking the time out of his busy schedule and helping the CaST group ahead of the Christmas performance. He’s such a lovely man.

“All the cast have loved rehearsing for the show – even though they keep getting their lines wrong and forgetting when to come in – but that has just added to the humour. To have a Coronation Street star give them some professional tips was incredible!”

As well as helping them during their dress rehearsal, Peter also posed for photos with the cast and staff, and stayed to watch the show.

Speaking before the live performance Peter, who also opened the annual Christmas fayre in November at Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, said: “I thought the rehearsal went really well. All the cast did brilliantly, even though things went wrong. They managed to keep it going and they all had fun, which is the main part. I thought it was really good, and really quite funny – especially Elvis!”

The one-off performance was such a hit, the hospice is trying to arrange another performance for friends and family in the new year.