REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
I’m Sorry Prime Minister
Palace Theatre
430 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA
Tue 21 - Sat 25 July 2026
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
I’m Sorry Prime Minister
Palace Theatre
430 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA
Tue 21 - Sat 25 July 2026
Thought provoking and amusing
Jonathan Lynn has resurrected Jim Hacker and his nemesis civil servant Sir Humphrey in this very topical play for today. However, time has moved on and members of the audience who were expecting a rehash of the old TV series Yes Minister or Yes Prime Minister were disappointed. Hacker is now a Master of an Oxford college needing a carer or a Care Worker as Sophie keeps telling him (Princess Donnough). Meanwhile, Sir Humphrey has been placed in a home for ‘the elderly deranged,’ by his family to whom he has handed over all his assets to save tax.
The two main actors Clive Francis and Robert Kitson dominate the stage with their witty wordplay. In fact, Sir Humphrey’s long diatribes of explanation via monologues that confuse more than explain the issue at hand, is frequently met with spontaneous applause.
Apparently, Robert Kitson has been the understudy for much of the tour and has now taken over the role of Hacker. He slots well into the character as the confused, PM played by Paul Eddington in the TV series.
The Oxford students want Hacker to resign as he is out of touch. To help him stay in the role, he calls in his old colleague Sir Humphrey who originally negotiated the role for life. In fact, that aspect is rather sad, that once powerful people are now irrelevant and invisible. No amount of Hacker announcing that he was once Prime Minister means anything to the young woman working for him.
It is amusing that Sir David (William Chubb) who comes to ask Hacker to resign enters dressed like the Grim Reaper, but it’s also an indication of Hacker’s future. It is hilarious when Sir Humphrey looks as if he is about to have a fit of the shakes, but it is only his phone vibrating.
Clive Francis constantly jibes at the weak and ineffectual Prime Minister he once served, who had a propensity to keep changing decisions (sounds familiar). This leads to witty discussions about Brexit (a tragic mistake, started by Hacker) and other events. Hacker cannot understand why he needs to resign. However, as he feels that 'Free Speech' is only free is you agree with the woke views expressed by others, also has unacceptable comments on historical colonialism. Additionally, his reference to gays in the common parlance of the past, confirms that he is out of touch. Sophie, who has a degree, then debates the relevance of books on the syllabus. Should they be judged on the words used in the period they are written? However, she states they are offensive if they offend one person. Why should there be trigger warnings is Hacker’s cry? What’s more, you can’t joke about things even if they are serious!!!!
His ‘Care Worker (who the men keep asking is that the same as a Sex Worker) is young, black and gay and ticks all the woke boxes. She acts as the voice that argues the case for the modern views on life, and as a result is offered the job of Head of Diversity, by the college.
By its very subject matter, it is a very ‘talky’ play. Although it is amusing, very clever, and very relevant to today, I'm afraid that some of it rather went over the audience’s heads. Additionally, sometimes the debates were rather quiet and although people in the stalls laughed at the humour, the audience in the Dress Circle didn’t, because they couldn’t quite hear it.
This play is Jonathan Lynn’s swansong for his well-loved sitcom duo, with an excellent stage design by Lee Newby. It is funny, clever and takes the audience down memory lane, as well as leaving them with something to think about. As well as being the writer, Lynn also directs this thought provoking comedy. For devotees of the old series, I'm Sorry Prime Minister offers sharp political satire, familiar characters and baffling Civil Service doublespeak enough to confuse any Prime Minister.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Performances continue:-
Wed 22 - Sat 25 Jul 2026
7.30pm Mat 2.30 pm ( Wed & Sat)
Tickets – From £23.50
Box office: 03433 1000 30
Tour Continues
28 July - 1 August
Malvern Theatres
The two main actors Clive Francis and Robert Kitson dominate the stage with their witty wordplay. In fact, Sir Humphrey’s long diatribes of explanation via monologues that confuse more than explain the issue at hand, is frequently met with spontaneous applause.
Apparently, Robert Kitson has been the understudy for much of the tour and has now taken over the role of Hacker. He slots well into the character as the confused, PM played by Paul Eddington in the TV series.
The Oxford students want Hacker to resign as he is out of touch. To help him stay in the role, he calls in his old colleague Sir Humphrey who originally negotiated the role for life. In fact, that aspect is rather sad, that once powerful people are now irrelevant and invisible. No amount of Hacker announcing that he was once Prime Minister means anything to the young woman working for him.
It is amusing that Sir David (William Chubb) who comes to ask Hacker to resign enters dressed like the Grim Reaper, but it’s also an indication of Hacker’s future. It is hilarious when Sir Humphrey looks as if he is about to have a fit of the shakes, but it is only his phone vibrating.
Clive Francis constantly jibes at the weak and ineffectual Prime Minister he once served, who had a propensity to keep changing decisions (sounds familiar). This leads to witty discussions about Brexit (a tragic mistake, started by Hacker) and other events. Hacker cannot understand why he needs to resign. However, as he feels that 'Free Speech' is only free is you agree with the woke views expressed by others, also has unacceptable comments on historical colonialism. Additionally, his reference to gays in the common parlance of the past, confirms that he is out of touch. Sophie, who has a degree, then debates the relevance of books on the syllabus. Should they be judged on the words used in the period they are written? However, she states they are offensive if they offend one person. Why should there be trigger warnings is Hacker’s cry? What’s more, you can’t joke about things even if they are serious!!!!
His ‘Care Worker (who the men keep asking is that the same as a Sex Worker) is young, black and gay and ticks all the woke boxes. She acts as the voice that argues the case for the modern views on life, and as a result is offered the job of Head of Diversity, by the college.
By its very subject matter, it is a very ‘talky’ play. Although it is amusing, very clever, and very relevant to today, I'm afraid that some of it rather went over the audience’s heads. Additionally, sometimes the debates were rather quiet and although people in the stalls laughed at the humour, the audience in the Dress Circle didn’t, because they couldn’t quite hear it.
This play is Jonathan Lynn’s swansong for his well-loved sitcom duo, with an excellent stage design by Lee Newby. It is funny, clever and takes the audience down memory lane, as well as leaving them with something to think about. As well as being the writer, Lynn also directs this thought provoking comedy. For devotees of the old series, I'm Sorry Prime Minister offers sharp political satire, familiar characters and baffling Civil Service doublespeak enough to confuse any Prime Minister.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Performances continue:-
Wed 22 - Sat 25 Jul 2026
7.30pm Mat 2.30 pm ( Wed & Sat)
Tickets – From £23.50
Box office: 03433 1000 30
Tour Continues
28 July - 1 August
Malvern Theatres
I’M SORRY, PRIME MINISTER
A new comedy written and directed by Jonathan Lynn
Co-directed by Michael Gyngell
Starring Clive Francis and Simon Rouse
Palace Theatre, Southend
from 21 to 25 July 2026
A new comedy written and directed by Jonathan Lynn
Co-directed by Michael Gyngell
Starring Clive Francis and Simon Rouse
Palace Theatre, Southend
from 21 to 25 July 2026
CLIVE FRANCIS REPRISES THE ROLE OF SIR HUMPHREY APPLEBY AND SIMON ROUSE WILL STAR AS EX-PRIME MINISTER JIM HACKER
PRINCESS DONNOUGH ALSO RETURNS IN THE ROLE OF SOPHIE
PRINCESS DONNOUGH ALSO RETURNS IN THE ROLE OF SOPHIE
Clive Francis and Simon Rouse Photo: Michael Wharley
From the BAFTA Award-winning co-creator of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, Jonathan Lynn, comes the long-awaited final chapter of this political satire — and it is as cutting, and catastrophically funny as ever. I’m Sorry Prime Minister plays at the Palace Theatre in Southend from 21 to 25 July.
Jim Hacker is back — older, but perhaps not wiser, and still utterly baffled by the real world. Hoping for a quiet retirement from Government as the master of Hacker College, Oxford, Jim instead finds himself facing the ultimate modern crisis: cancelled by the college committee. Enter Sir Humphrey Appleby (played by the acclaimed Clive Francis), who has lost none of his love for bureaucracy, Latin phrases, and well-timed obstruction.
Can Humphrey and Jim out manoeuvre the hostile students, the Fellows, and reality itself? Or is it finally time to say, "I’m Sorry, Prime Minister..."? Brimming with razor-sharp wit, nostalgic brilliance, and more double-speak than a press briefing, this is political comedy at its most timeless — and timely.
The cast includes Clive Francis who is reprising the role of Sir Humphrey Appleby which he performed at the Barn Theatre, and currently in the West End, alongside Simon Rouse in the role of Ex-Prime Minister Jim Hacker. Princess Donnough also plays the role of Sophie, which she is currently performing in the West End.
Yes, Minister is a British television comedy series written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran for 16 episodes from 1986 to 1988. A hugely successful stage play entitled Yes, Prime Minister was premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre in May 2010. The production transferred to the West End where it played at three different theatres and also toured the UK twice to great acclaim.
Set principally in the private office of a British cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, Yes Minister follows the ministerial career of Jim Hacker, played by Paul Eddington. His various struggles to formulate and enact policy or effect departmental changes are opposed by the British Civil Service, in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Nigel Hawthorne. The series received several BAFTAs and in 2004 was voted sixth in the Britain's Best Sitcom poll. It was the favourite television programme for fans across the political spectrum, most notably of the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher.
Website: imsorryprimeminister.com/uk-tour/
Instagram: @imsorryprimeminister
Facebook: I’m Sorry, Prime Minister – The Play
Jim Hacker is back — older, but perhaps not wiser, and still utterly baffled by the real world. Hoping for a quiet retirement from Government as the master of Hacker College, Oxford, Jim instead finds himself facing the ultimate modern crisis: cancelled by the college committee. Enter Sir Humphrey Appleby (played by the acclaimed Clive Francis), who has lost none of his love for bureaucracy, Latin phrases, and well-timed obstruction.
Can Humphrey and Jim out manoeuvre the hostile students, the Fellows, and reality itself? Or is it finally time to say, "I’m Sorry, Prime Minister..."? Brimming with razor-sharp wit, nostalgic brilliance, and more double-speak than a press briefing, this is political comedy at its most timeless — and timely.
The cast includes Clive Francis who is reprising the role of Sir Humphrey Appleby which he performed at the Barn Theatre, and currently in the West End, alongside Simon Rouse in the role of Ex-Prime Minister Jim Hacker. Princess Donnough also plays the role of Sophie, which she is currently performing in the West End.
Yes, Minister is a British television comedy series written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran for 16 episodes from 1986 to 1988. A hugely successful stage play entitled Yes, Prime Minister was premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre in May 2010. The production transferred to the West End where it played at three different theatres and also toured the UK twice to great acclaim.
Set principally in the private office of a British cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, Yes Minister follows the ministerial career of Jim Hacker, played by Paul Eddington. His various struggles to formulate and enact policy or effect departmental changes are opposed by the British Civil Service, in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Nigel Hawthorne. The series received several BAFTAs and in 2004 was voted sixth in the Britain's Best Sitcom poll. It was the favourite television programme for fans across the political spectrum, most notably of the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher.
Website: imsorryprimeminister.com/uk-tour/
Instagram: @imsorryprimeminister
Facebook: I’m Sorry, Prime Minister – The Play