Confused drunk steals the show!

A PERFORMANCE at Oldham’s shop-based Hard Graft Theatre Company was almost upstaged when a drunk staggered in mid-show and tried to buy a phone.

The company, which has hired an empty shop unit at Tommyfield Market to stage “I Love Oldham” was interrupted by the drunken Irishman during the first night performance.

Company founder and leading man Mark Whiteley said: “It was comedy gold. At the most intimate part of the comedy the man stumbles in and announced ‘I’ve been trying to buy the phone all day, but you’re always shut.’

“Rayyah McCaul playing Joyce, a charity shop volunteer, told him to pop round in the morning as she pushed him back outside before he knew what had happened.”

The tiny Albion Street theatre was at full capacity at the time: 35 people were packed into the shop, which is done up as a charity shop with lots of second-hand goods.

The perormances, until June 9, are also helping to raise money for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, whose donated stock has helped to create the set.

Tickets at www.hardgraft.co.uk