Beloved British comedy characters officially returning after decades away

A comedy legend is returning to the West End

Atkinson, now 71, will revisit both characters in Rowan Live, alongside sketches from other points in his career and material written specifically for the production.

The show is deliberately short, with just 30 performances scheduled at the Gillian Lynne Theatre between 8 February and 13 March. 

“It is 40 years since I last did a comedy sketch show in the West End,” Atkinson said.

He explained that he wanted to return to the sketches he originally performed with Richard Curtis, which helped introduce some of his most famous characters, while also adding “surprise new material written especially for this show”.

Atkinson has reunited with some familiar names backstage

The promotional artwork gives an idea of the nostalgia involved. Atkinson is pictured opening a chest containing the familiar Mr Bean outfit, Blackadder’s Elizabethan clothing, a priest’s vestments and a gorilla mask.

There is also a Blackadder reunion behind the scenes, with Atkinson working with writer Ben Elton and composer Howard Goodall.

Goodall and Richard Curtis had originally collaborated with Atkinson on comedy stage shows at Oxford University before the trio moved into television with Not the Nine O'Clock News.

Atkinson's last West End appearance was in 2013, when he starred in Quartermaine's Terms. This new production will be directed by Raz Shaw.