A comedy show blending the humour of a double act with the spirit of Frank Capra's film, about a man with learning disabilities, co-created with learning-disabled artists.
The Lawnmowers and Murmur Theatre bring It's a Wonderful Us to Northern Stage on Saturday 17 October, part of a national tour running from October 2026 through May 2027. It's a comedy show that blends the chaotic humour of a double act with the spirit of Frank Capra's cinema, and it's built around a man with learning disabilities.
The story follows Darren and Ginger, a double act trapped in the faded glamour of a never-ending variety show, trying to revive their act in the spirit of Morecambe and Wise and Tommy Cooper. As Darren revisits recordings with his father, he uncovers stories of struggle, triumph and the hidden truths that shaped him. The production mixes that double-act energy with Capra-esque magic to trace one man's journey with learning disabilities.
It was written and directed by Steve Gilroy, a Fringe First and The Stage award winner, and co-created over six years with Lawnmowers performers Andrew McLeod and Andrew Robson. The show grew out of workshops, interviews and conversations with learning-disabled artists and their families, and it's performed by a cast of learning-disabled and non-learning-disabled artists, including McLeod and Robson. The makers say they hope it will broaden representation and increase the visibility of learning-disabled artists.
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It's a Wonderful Us is part of The Lawnmowers Theatre Company's 40th anniversary celebrations, and the Newcastle date is one stop on a tour that'll be visiting venues across the UK between October 2026 and May 2027. It plays in Stage 3 at Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, NE1 7RH, on Saturday 17 October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 to £16.50, with concessions from £10 to £15.
