WHEN Gary Simmons and Jane Aston’s theatrical take on Roy Clarke’s Open All Hours premiered in Sutton Coldfield to mark its 40th anniversary, it was clear there was an appetite for the classic sitcom.

“Within days the tickets were sold out and there was a waiting list of 300 names,” says Simmons who has bravely donned the moustache and large eyebrows of the miserly shopkeep Arkwright, originally portrayed by Ronnie Barker.

“We realised with that sort of demand we could put a tour together.”

The show has the blessing of creator Roy Clarke, and features many famous moments from the original four series, including Arkwright convincing his regular customers Jamaican ginger cake is an aphrodisiac to shift a backlog in his storeroom, to his seemingly unending pursuit of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel.

“It could be described as a greatest hits show,” says Simmons. “My biggest aim was to live up to the audience’s expectations in the way it looks, feels and sounds.”

The touring set is a monster – containing not just the shop, but also Nurse Gladys’s house, the back kitchen and Arkwright’s warehouse.

“The set designer said there are 3,000 separate props on stage – with all the tins of baked beans and Jamaica cakes,” says Simmons.

“The sitcom was a success because people could relate to the location and the type of British humour. People recognised the characters and situations. Today you would probably set it in a coffee shop, writing about baristas!”

The touring cast features eight actors playing 15 different roles. Simmons admits one of the hardest parts to cast was of Arkwright’s put-upon part-Hungarian nephew and assistant manager Granville.

“The actor who plays him is extremely talented and gifted,” says Simmons. “He’s done a wonderful job – not only does he have to play the role [made famous by David Jason] but he also has to sing and dance Singin’ In The Rain.”

He feels the relationship between Arkwright and Granville is important to the story – but isn’t necessarily quite as love/hate as it seems.

“Arkwright is always putting him down, but his actions tell a different story,” he says. “He’s taken in his sister’s child, taught him a trade and given him a home. It adds to the depth of the character.”

With Eastbourne the final date on the current national tour, which began in February, Simmons is hoping that the company will be able to take it back on the road next year.

“I would love to take it to Doncaster where the original show was filmed,” says Simmons, who was in the audience to see a recording of Clarke’s soon-to-be screened sequel to the original sitcom Still Open All Hours, which stars David Jason as a grown-up Granville.

“When you see the original Open All Hours shop [in Balby] it’s like the owner walked out in 1982 and nothing has changed since.”

Open All Hours Devonshire Park Theatre, Compton Street, Eastbourne, Thursday, October 23, to Saturday, October 25