from a sword through the neck, to mark addy being beheaded on stage.play in london, and he says this show is proving just as tough. you have people watching from three different sides so whereas sometimes you can do things with magic and you don't want people to be able to see from the sides, with this, you have got to think about those things because everyone is up close and they are closer than in a conventional theatre. at one point there is a sword put through the ghost‘s neck. this is a solid thing. that is quite a feat. that was the challenge. solid sword through a neck, but we are doing it. it's fun. tell us how. i can't, it's magic! big stars, a big cast and a big—name theatre company, creating the biggest theatrical moment of 2017 so far. and one of the stars is caroline quentin. best known for tv show men behaving badly, but delighted to be taking to the stage for this play. apart from paying the bills, why did you want to take this role? i was sent the script by richard bean and everyone knows he's a brilliant playwright. i had worked with h

tv and film star mark addy.unning around inside a cardboard box which represents a commode. for reasons that are too complex to explain, but yes, farce is ultimately a physical form. richard bean's probably our best comedy writer at the moment. especially in terms of farce. he can ride a farce like nobody else. be more careful next time. while the actors rehearse, work started on the project of building the set. the largest they have ever made at this theatre. backstage they are even converting offices into dressing rooms to make stage for the 21—strong cast. the play is filled with tricks and illusions. from a sword through the neck to mark addy being beheaded on stage. the man in charge of pulling it off worked on the potter play in london, and he says this show is proving just as tough. you have people watching from three different sides so where are sometimes you can do things with magic and you don't want people to be able to see from the sides, with this, you have got to think about those things because ev

we will take you behind the scenes with actors caroline quentin and mark addy.tiny footprints making a giant artwork celebrating life, birth and memory. as you can see, there is already quite a buzz at hull truck theatre. but then again it's not everyday that the rsc up sticks and moves to a new home temporarily. but then again it's not a usual year for hull, we are the uk city of culture for 2017. i'm anne—marie tasker, the arts and culture correspondent for the bbc in hull. and this is kofi smiles. i'm the face of hull, chosen by the bbc to tell the world about the city of culture, after i auditioned here. you can see the stage, it's just down there, round past the toilets. it's three months since kofi was over there