The Ladykillers

The Ealing Film Comedy adapted for the stage from the original screenplay by [William Rose]. Alexander Mackendrick’s deliciously dark comedy has become one of the undisputed classics of British cinema, earning on its release in 1955, both a BAFTA Award and an Oscar nomination for William Rose, and the affection of the public over the years since. A gang of less than brilliant but would-be ruthless criminals choose to masquerade as a band of musicians while they use sweet old Mrs Wilberforce’s spare room to plan their next big score. Playing records to simulate the sounds of ‘rehearsal’ they hope to pull the wool over the eyes of their elderly, unsuspecting hostess but gradually paranoia starts to set in with hilariously fatal consequences.