Three Men in a Boat

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Directed by Simon Downing

Adapted from the splendid book by Jerome K Jerome by Simon Downing & Giles Shenton

With Giles Shenton (Old Herbaceous & My Dog's Got No Nose) as Jerome

Following the continuing success of Old Herbaceous we're back with a rip roaring barrel of fun, Three Men in a Boat, with Giles Shenton (Old Herbaceous himself!) playing the part of Jerome K Jerome.

Join Jerome as he recounts the hilarious story of his boating holiday along the magnificent River Thames with his two companions and Montmorency the dog. Come and join in the fun as Giles Shenton expertly takes the helm and pilots you through the ridiculous tale of men behaving badly while messing about in boats!

“George got out his banjo after supper, and wanted to play it, but Harris objected: he said he had got a headache and did not feel strong enough to stand it. George thought the music might do him good—said music often soothed the nerves and took away a headache; and he twanged two or three notes, just to show Harris what it was like.

Harris said he would rather have the headache.”

“There are a few seriously funny books that remain great for all time. Three Men in a Boat is one of these” The Guardian

“Timeless appeal” The Independent

“Pitch-perfect comedy about, well, three men in a boat” The Telegraph

"Skilfully distilled from Jerome K. Jerome’s comic masterpiece into 95 minutes of pure delight. To those who wondered if the same team could live up to the earlier success of Old Herbaceous, the answer was an emphatic yes. A master class in confidence, stagecraft and delivery." Opening Night Review

“The nearest thing to "audio slapstick" I've ever heard, culminating in the sublime comedy of opening a tin, when you've forgotten the tin opener. It is not often that you come out of a theatrical performance feeling like you've been sharing happy and hilarious times, safe from a cruel world & wrapped in a warm blanket.” Vera Fletcher Review

Giles Shenton "creates an instant rapport with the audience, drawing us into his world and making the characters in it so real we feel you have known them forever. " Edinburgh Fringe Review

Future dates (click on the link below each date to book tickets)

11 May 2025 Lifeways Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon (OA)

https://buytickets.at/gilesshentonproductions

16 Aug 2025 Cherington Village Hall, Warks

https://buytickets.at/gilesshentonproductions

(OA) = Open Air Performance

Past dates

22 Feb 2019 Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, Hants ***SOLD OUT***

23 Feb 2019 Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, Hants

1 Mar 2019 Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton, Surrey

5 Mar 2019 Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth, Devon ***SOLD OUT***

6 Mar 2019 Cygnet Theatre, Exeter, Devon ***SOLD OUT***

21 Mar 2019 Grantham Guildhall, Grantham, Lincs

22 Mar 2019 Southwold Arts Centre, Suffolk

23 Mar 2019 The Place Theatre, Bedford ***SOLD OUT***

5 April 2019 Angles Theatre, Wisbech, Cambs

20 April 2019 Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Surrey ***SOLD OUT***

3 May 2019 Brixham Theatre, Brixham, Devon

24 May 2019 Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland

25 May 2019 Barn Theatre, Smallhythe Place, Kent ***SOLD OUT***

29 May 2019 Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, Wales

30 May 2019 Hangar Farm Arts Centre, Totton, Hants

6 June 2019 Stable Theatre, Great Comp, Kent ***SOLD OUT***

22 June 2019 Ralph Court Gardens, Herefordshire

26 June 2019 South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell (OA) ***SOLD OUT***

30 June 2019 Evesham Festival of Words, Evesham, Worcs

3 July 2019 Seaton Jurassic Amphitheatre, Devon (OA)

4 July 2019 Moorland Garden Hotel, South Devon (OA)

12 July 2019 Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Festival, Surrey

13 July 2019 Miserden Estate, Gloucestershire (OA)

14 July 2019 Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

17 July 2019 Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Wales ***SOLD OUT***

19 July 2019 Caerau Gardens, North Wales (OA)

20 July 2019 Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Anglesey (OA) ***SOLD OUT***
28 July 2019 Sussex Prairie Gardens, East Sussex (OA)

31 July 2019 RHS Harlow Carr, North Yorks (OA)

1 Aug 2019 Middlesbrough Theatre, North Yorks

3 Aug 2019 Cliveden House, Berkshire (OA)

9 Aug 2019 Avon Mill, Kingsbridge, Devon ***SOLD OUT***

10 Aug 2019 Avon MIll, Kingsbridge, Devon ***SOLD OUT***

11 Aug 2019 Burrow Farm Gardens, nr Axminster, Devon (OA)

31 Aug 2019 Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset ***SOLD OUT***

1 Sept 2019 Weald and Downland Museum, Sussex (OA)

4 Sept 2019 Riverhead Theatre, Louth, Lincs

5 Sept 2019 Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk

11 Sept 2019 Brighton Open Air Theatre, East Sussex (OA)

14 Sept 2019 Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Wales

26 Sept 2019 OSO Arts Centre, Barnes Green, London

28 Sept 2019 Wingfield Barns, Suffolk

4 Oct 2019 Cranleigh Arts Centre, Cranleigh, Surrey

2 Nov 2019 Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud, Glos

14 Nov 2019 The Hawth, Crawley, West Sussex

20 Nov 2019 The Lights, Andover, Hants

24 Jan 2020 The Players Theatre, Thame, Oxon

13 Feb 2020 Cryer Arts Centre, Carshalton, Surrey ***SOLD OUT***

28 Feb 2020 The Core Theatre, Solihull, West Midlands ***SOLD OUT***

29 Feb 2020 The Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs, Kent

21 March 2020 Neuadd Eleanor Hall, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Ruthin, Wales ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

7 May 2020 The Spring, Havant, Hants ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE Sat 17 Oct 2020***

8 May 2020 Ropery Hall, Barton-upon-Humber, N Lincs ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

9 May 2020 Skipton Little Theatre, Skipton, N Yorks ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

13 June 2020 Buckingham Literary Festival, Bucks ***CANCELLED***

21 June 2020 Leith Hill Place, Dorking, Surrey (OA) ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

25 June 2020 Cliff House, Salcombe, Devon ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

26 June 2020 The Garden House, Yelverton, Devon (OA) ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

27 June 2020 Trebah Gardens Amphitheatre, Cornwall (OA) ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

1 July 2020 Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire (OA) ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

30 July 2020 Ilminster Arts Centre, Somerset ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

14 Aug 2020 Gilbert White's House & Gardens, Selborne, Hants (OA)

15 Aug 2020 The Dog & Duck Public House, Outwood, Surrey (OA)

20 Aug 2020 Acorn Theatre, Penzance, Cornwall SOLD OUT

22 Aug 2020 Haverhill Arts Centre, Haverhill, Suffolk (OA)

29 Aug 2020 The Gibberd Garden, Harlow, Essex (OA)

2pm SOLD OUT

6pm SOLD OUT

31 Aug 2020 Meadowbank Park, Mill Lane, Dorking (OA) SOLD OUT

5 Sept 2020 Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge, Kent (OA)

20 Sept 2020 Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, Birmingham (OA)

26 Sept 2020 South Hill Park Arts Centre Amphitheatre, Bracknell (OA) 2pm & 6pm

27 Sept 2020 The Milton Rooms, Malton, N Yorks

17 Oct 2020 The Spring, Havant, Hants SOLD OUT

24 Oct 2020 Betchworth Village War Memorial Hall, Surrey (in aid of Cancer Research UK) ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

26 Oct 2020 United Reformed Church, Oxted - Oxted Bluehouse Festival ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

29 Oct 2020 The Astor, Deal, Kent ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

3 Dec 2020 The Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

11 Dec 2020 The Heron Theatre, Milnthorpe, Cumbria ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

29 May 2021 Skipton Little Theatre, Skipton, N Yorks ***POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA***

12 June 2021 Quay Theatre, Sudbury, Suffolk (OA) SOLD OUT

26 June 2021 Coddington Village Hall, Coddington, Notts

18 July 2021 Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos (OA) ***SOLD OUT***

24 July 2021 Diss Park, Diss, Norfolk (OA)

8 Aug 2021 Beacon Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire (OA) ***SOLD OUT***

8 Oct 2021 Fisher Theatre, Bungay, Suffolk

16 Oct 2021 Tutbury Village Hall (Live & Local Staffordshire)

19 Nov 2021 Normanton on Trent Village Hall (Live & Local Nottinghamshire)

20 Nov 2021 Stoke Golding Village Hall ***SOLD OUT*** (Live & Local Leicestershire & Rutland)

04 Mar 2022 Milton Village Hall (Live & Local Derbyshire)

05 Mar 2022 Glen Parva Parish Hall (Live & Local Leicestershire & Rutland)

06 Mar 2022 Winthorpe Community Centre (Live & Local Nottinghamshire)

08 Mar 2022 Howden Shire Hall, Goole, Yorks

10 Mar 2022 Leyburn Arts Centre, Leyburn, North Yorks

11 Mar 2022 The Heron Theatre, Beetham, Lancs ***SOLD OUT***

12 Mar 2022 Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs, Kent

25 Mar 2022 Taddington Village Institute (Live & Local Derbyshire)

26 Mar 2022 The Old School, Cropwell Bishop (Live & Local Nottinghamshire)

07 April 2022 Two Sisters Arts Centre, Felixstowe, Suffolk

08 April 2022 Countesthorpe Village Hall (Live & Local Leicestershire & Rutland)

09 April 2022 Heydour Parish Village Hall, Aisby (Live & Local Lincolnshire)

29 April 2022 Bishampton Villages Hall (Live & Local Worcestershire)

14 May 2022 Ilmington Village Hall, Ilmington, Warwickshire

20 May 2022 Greatford Village Hall (Live & Local Lincolnshire)

21 May 2022 Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby (Live & Local Lincolnshire)

27 May 2022 The Richmond School, Skegness (Live & Local Lincolnshire)

3 June 2022 Ilminster Arts Centre, Ilminster, Somerset

17 June 2022 The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

28 June 2022 The Ropewalk, Barton-upon-Humber

8 July 2022 Brixham Theatre, Brixham, Devon

9 July 2022 Wysall & Thorpe Village Hall, Nottinghamshire

22 July 2022 Petersfield Museum, Petersfield, Hants

4 Aug 2022 Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough, North Yorks

9 Aug 2022 Brixham Theatre, Brixham, Devon

21 Aug 2022 Mapperton House, Mapperton, Dorset (OA)

23 Aug 2022 Brixham Theatre, Brixham, Devon

3 Sept 2022 The Barn Theatre, Oxted, Surrey

7 Oct 2022 Sleaford Playhouse Theatre, Sleaford, Lincs

4 Nov 2022 The Little Theatre, Leicester

18 Nov 2022 Quorn Village Hall (Live & Local Leicestershire & Rutland)

19 Nov 2022 The Enterprise Hall, Sutton-on-Sea (Live & Local Lincolnshire)

20 Nov 2022 Great Longstone Village Hall (Live & Local Derbyshire)

28 Jan 2023 Kingston on Soar Village Hall (Live & Local Nottinghamshire)

29 Jan 2023 Irnham Hall, Irnham (Live & Local Lincolnshire) ***SOLD OUT***

24 Feb 2023 Otley Courthouse, Leeds

25 Feb 2023 Dorchester-on-Thames Village Hall, Oxon ***SOLD OUT***

3 Mar 2023 St. Mary's Church, Long Wittenham, Oxon

3 Aug 2023 Astor Community Theatre, Deal, Kent

2 Feb 2023 Bledington Village Hall, Glos (Air in G Rural Touring)

3 Feb 2024 Minchinhampton Market House, Minchinhampton, Stroud, Glos (Air in G Rural Touring)

16 Feb 2024 Neuadd Eleanor Hall, Ruthin, Wales (Night Out Scheme) ***SOLD OUT***

23 Feb 2024 The Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch, SY13 2BY (Arts Alive Rural Touring)

24 Feb 2004 Farlow and Oreton Village Hall, DY14 0TP (Arts Alive Rural Touring)

22 Mar 2024 Harley Village Hall, Harley, Shropshire (Arts Alive Rural Touring) ***SOLD OUT***

23 Mar 2024 Chapel Lawn Village Hall, Chapel Lawn, Shropshire (Arts Alive Rural Touring)***SOLD OUT***

24 Mar 2024 Bitterley Village Hall, Bitterley, Shropshire (Arts Alive Rural Touring) ***SOLD OUT***

6 Apr 2024 The George, Newnham on Severn, Glos (Air in G Rural Touring) ***SOLD OUT***

10 May 2024 Palace Theatre, Paignton, Devon

7 June 2024 Ilminster Arts Centre, Ilminster, Somerset

27 June 2024 Southwell Library, Southwell, Notts ***SOLD OUT***

13 Sept 2024 Sherborne Studio Theatre, Sherborne, Dorset ***SOLD OUT***

14 Sept 2024 Sherborne Studio Theatre, Sherborne, Dorset (afternoon)

14 Sept 2024 Sherborne Studio Theatre, Sherborne, Dorset (evening) ***SOLD OUT***

11 Oct 2024 Little Milton Village Hall, Oxon

31 Oct 2024 The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

2 Nov 2024 The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

9 Nov 2024 Skipton Little Theatre, Skipton, Yorks

28 Nov 2024 Whitchurch on Thames Village Hall, Oxon

17 Jan 2025 Ramsden Memorial Hall, Oxon

23 Jan 2025 The Hub at St Mary's, Lichfield, Staffs

24 Jan 2025 Burton Green Village Hall, Warks

7 Mar 2025 Preston on Stour Village Hall, Warks

22 Mar 2025 Brimpsfield Village Hall, Glos

4 April 2025 Marton War Memorial Hall, Warks

18 April 2025 Albany Theatre, Coventry

19 April 2025 Archway Theatre, Horley, Surrey 2.pm & 7pm

Reviews

Opening night review - 22 February 2019 - Phoenix Theatre, Hants

"Bordon’s Phoenix Theatre was packed for the opening night of Three Men in a Boat, adapted by Simon Downing and Giles Shenton and directed as a one-hander by Downing and starring the inimitable Shenton, who so enchanted previous audiences with his portrayal of the ancient and endearing gardener in Old Herbaceous. To those who wondered if the same team could live up to that earlier success, the answer was an emphatic yes.

Skilfully distilled from the 30,000-plus words of Jerome K. Jerome’s comic masterpiece into 95 minutes of pure delight, the story follows the fortunes and misadventures of the author J, his two companions George and Harris, and his dog Montmorency on their accident-prone boating holiday on the Thames. The scene is set in J’s London flat, cluttered with fishing and rowing paraphernalia, in which all the action conjured up in the narration takes place. Giles Shenton’s talent is not only in delivering every word faultlessly as he holds the rapt attention of the audience, but in morphing imperceptibly from the misguidedly self-assured character of J to that of the work-shy and lethargic George or the boisterous and greedy Harris, and imaginatively painting, with subtle gesture and expression, the shifting surroundings as the calamitous river excursion unfolds. It is essentially a series of rambling anecdotes with here a wistful reminiscence, there a sentimental reflection, but everywhere a succession of hilarious mishaps and ludicrous adversities, told with a knowing twinkle, a resigned acceptance of the inevitability of disaster, or with a hearty laugh.

Among the first of the many highlights was J’s anxiety on discovering that the only ailment from which he didn’t suffer was housemaid’s knee. Then there was much contradiction and confusion over trains and platforms at Waterloo, as still bedevils many a South Western Railway traveller. There followed farcical accounts of battles with tangled tow-lines that had a life of their own and with recalcitrant hoops for holding up the boat’s canvas cover that fought like demons against being forced into the holes provided for them. Food was a source of much anticipation, frustration and fury, notably in the violent but ultimately unsuccessful assault on a tin of pineapple when the tin-opener couldn’t be found. Most memorable of all was the making of an Irish stew, in which ‘nothing was wasted’ except a dead water rat which Montmorency helpfully, but vainly, offered as an ingredient. And to finish, there was Harris’s comic song from H.M.S Pinafore or perhaps Trial by Jury – he was as uncertain of the title as he was of the words. These were laugh-out-loud moments, but there were also subtler touches, such as a frying pan doubling as a banjo, the occasional well-judged ad-lib to the audience, much mopping of the brow and regular swigs from two similar but quite different bottles of wine. It was a master class in confidence, stagecraft and delivery.

Deservedly prolonged applause brought the performance to an end before the production set off on its twelve-month tour to 44 other venues from Devon to Northumberland, Anglesey to Kent, London to Norfolk and widely scattered places in between. To judge by this first outing at the Phoenix Theatre, it seems assured of an enthusiastic countrywide reception."

Review - 1 March 2019 - Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton, Surrey

" ... there is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.", so says "Ratty", in Kenneth Graham's classic, " The Wind in the Willows". Last night in Thames Ditton, we witnessed just that, with Kick in the Head's inspired new production of " Three Men in a Boat", starring one man...the amazing, energetic & totally engaging Giles Shenton. We meet Jerome K. Jerome, incarnated by Giles...but, by the end of the evening, we also feel we know his two travelling companions, George and Harris, although we never actually see them on stage...(and also Montmorency, the dog), due to Shenton's immense and versatile stage presence. It's a brave thing to "remodel" such a classic, but Simon Downing's clever adaptation of the much-loved story succeeds on every level, including the very atmospheric and historically accurate set and props.

Three friends, feeling the need for some R & R, discard one original suggestion of a sea trip for a gentler river trip, exploring the tranquil Thames.

The original book was written in 1889, but the account of their somewhat fraught rail journey to reach Kingston upon Thames, their embarcation point, shows us that remarkably little has changed and the railway companies were playing "musical platforms " with their customers even then! Provisions and the mysteries of what to bring and how to cook it, played a big, authentic & amusing part in this very male, yet very comfortable saga. The idea of camping on the bank is discarded and hilarious descriptions of coping in a floating hotel are the nearest thing to "audio slapstick" I've ever heard, culminating in the sublime comedy of opening a tin, when you've forgotten the tin opener. The descriptions of these activities and discussions give us further insight into all the characters through the only one we actually meet, including Jerome's wife Hetty, who we also never meet and is cast in the vein of more modern versions, such as the absent Mrs Mainwaring in " Dad's army", or perhaps " her indoors" in "Minder", which all adds to the rather "clubbable" atmosphere.

The play echoes the rather chauvinistic cusp of the 19th/ 20th century and, like the trip itself, gives us the feeling of the rather gender segregated life which existed then, but very gently and with a whimsical touch. It almost feels comforting.

Throughout the trip, in addition to the practicalities of life aboard, we're treated to a fascinating and factual glimpse of the actual historic sites en route, with reference to maps on the wall, charting the Thames. Anyone aware of Giles Shenton's recent professional history might have been amused to hear " Jerome K Jerome" utter the immortal words" I've often thought that I should like to live at Hampton Court"...a near thing, as it turns out!

In the end, our intrepid trio, frustrated by the lack of anywhere decent for dinner, after their culinary mishaps, abandon the boat in favour of the train to return to London to their favourite hostelry. There, we are regaled by a song or two from Jerome K Jerome, with Giles Shenton in good voice, imitating Harris' own Gilbert & Sullivan performance, where he cannot decide whether he is singing something from "HMS Pinafore" or "Trial by Jury..." Shenton, who knows the river well himself, collaborated with the adaptation and wanted the whole play to be focussed on the tranquil waters of the Thames, in the upper reaches and so it was. The gentle waters become a metaphor for a gentler era. It is not often that you come out of a theatrical performance feeling like you've been sharing happy and hilarious times, safe from a cruel world & wrapped in a warm blanket.

The toast at the hostelry at the end is " to three men well out of a boat"...and in it too, say I !

This production follows Kick in the Head's astounding successes with "Old Herbaceous" and "Fagin", also starring Giles Shenton. The 2019/2020 tour combines " Three Men in Boat" with these. For performance dates and details, countrywide, see www.kickinthehead.co.uk not to be missed!

Review - Sherborne Studio Theatre 14 Sept 2024

Three Men in a Boat

Well, only one man, in fact, but the performance given by Giles Shenton, his Brian Blessed-like tones, unflagging humour and energy, and his substantial girth, led us all to feel that there were many more of him to see, enjoy and appreciate on our stage on a weekend in September.

We had booked Giles, a freelance professional actor, to fill an unexpected gap in our schedule, for three performances. There was always the risk, as an “outsider” without local friends and family to fill the seats, that the shows might have been sparsely attended. But the loyalty of our APS audiences was as dependable as ever; both evening performances quickly sold out, and there was only a handful of seats vacant during the matinée.

It seems quite likely that many of those in attendance were familiar with Jerome K Jerome’s famous book, published over 130 years ago. Perhaps for some (the present writer included), it evoked enormously fond and affectionate memories. We were not disappointed. Giles created a persona of a much older “J” looking back on his boat trip, and sharing stories about it with the audience, from within his classic “man cave” (indeed, he created an astonishingly detailed and well-stocked set all transported within one car.) His skill in creating character through accent and voice meant that we easily believed in the virtual presence of his companions, George and Harris, not to mention Montmorency, of course.

The original book contains such a wealth of hilarious anecdotes that it almost seemed a pity that any had to be omitted. My personal favourites (as they always have been) included the obstreperous tin of pineapples, the recalcitrant boat-covering tarpaulin, and J’s massive disappointment and offence at his failure to self-diagnose Housemaid’s Knee.

The beauty of such anecdotes lies partly in the manner in which Jerome imbues inanimate objects with animate, and usually hostile personalities. For example, I found the ideas of the pineapple tin with its leering, mocking grin, and the tow-rope’s malicious entanglement, to be particularly delicious.

An important part of Jerome’s book - indeed, its original primary intention - was to act as a hymn to the beauty, character and personality of the Thames as he saw it, and Giles made sure that this was not neglected in his interpretation.

The APS committee are delighted to have established this contact with Giles, and we look forward to welcoming him back for some of his other performances in the future.

Audience feedback

I just wanted to congratulate you on Three Men in a Boat which we saw last night in Andover. It conjured up the same feelings as reading a well written book did when I was a child (like Swiss Family Robinson or Wind in the Willows) and was perfectly performed. As a child my family took several boating holidays on the Thames, and I was taken back to early mornings on stretches like Marlow when the water was like glass, with whisps of mist floating above, gently lit by early summer sun. Thank you for a lovely evening's entertainment.