Comedy and impressions, poetry and classical music all wrapped up in show by Alistair McGowan

Although Alistair McGowan (pictured above) is best known for his extraordinary impressions, he’s also a multi-award-winning actor, writer and stand-up comedian, as well as a poet and a skilled pianist.

On Friday, July 17, he comes to The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, with an evening of comedy, poetry and beautiful piano music – three great shows in one.

Alistair’s early TV career as an impressionist made him a household name. He provided the voices for eight series of “Spitting Image” and earned a BAFTA for his BBC1 television series, “The Big Impression” with Ronni Ancona and Jan Ravens.

As an actor, Alistair has been a regular on BBC Radio 4 dramas and comedies and taken several lead roles on stage and screen.

Alistair is also an acclaimed writer – alongside writing his own stand-up and much of “The Big Impression”, and he has also written a stage play, three Radio 4 plays and a selection of poetry.

His first collection of poems, “Not What We Were Expecting” – released in 2024 – was 40 years in the making, while his new collection, “Like Never Before” has been written in the last 18 months.

Some poems are comic, some poignant, some observational. Nearly all follow the theme of a changing world – linguistically, politically, environmentally – and the changes we all experience as we age.

At the age of 49, Alistair went back to the piano (having reached Grade 2 as a nine-year old).

He started playing seriously in 2015, and just two years later released “The Piano Album” through Sony Classical, which reached No.1 in the classical charts.

Alistair McGowan plays The Apex on Friday, July 17, at 7.30pm.

Expect the comedy and impressions for which Alistair is known and loved, poignant and clever poetry, and piano gems by composers such as Debussy, Bryce Scriabin and Amy Beach, to name but a few. Beautiful music, beautiful words, and a large dose of Alistair’s trademark comedy.

See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information, or to book tickets.