Chris Harris was born in Bridgwater, and trained at the Rose Bruford College, the Jacques Lecoq Mime and Theatre School in Paris, Ladislav Fialka's Pantomime Company in Prague, and for a short time at the Moscow State Circus School.

His theatre work includes seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Bristol Old Vic, the New Shakespeare Company, Lincoln, Salisbury and Worthing Reps. He was also a founder member of the Avon Touring Theatre Company.

His world famous one-man shows include: Kemp's Jig, Ally Sloper's Half Holiday, and also That's the Way to Do It! Seen on television and on stages throughout England and the World, the latter show was performed for Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of Her Birthday in 1979.

His television appearances include; Tobias in "Tobias and the Angel", "The Virtuoso", "The Magical History Tour", "Hey Look That's Me" (nine series and an R.T.S. Award) "Into the Labyrinth", "After You Hugo", (a play he co-wrote for the BBC). He has done numerous documentaries including "Soho", the story of the Monmouth Rebellion, "In Search of Mother Kelly's Doorstep" (about Randolph Sutton), and "A Tale of Cerne" which told the story of the Millennium of Cerne Abbass. Other television includes "A Leap in the Dark", "The Eddiston e Lighthouse", and "The Rocking Horse Winner".

He toured the United States for Sam Wanamaker with a Company which included Cleo Lane and Johnny Dankworth, Douglas Fairbanks Junior, and Michael York. The purpose of the trip was to raise sponsorship for the proposed re-building of the Globe Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames.

He has toured extensively, thanks to the British Council, and in 1986 directed "The Comedy of Errors" in the Philippines. He directed for the Chung Ying Theatre Company in Hong Kong, and other productions include "Noises off" for the State Theatre in Istanbul which received two Best Productions of the Year Awards and "The Playboy of West Africa" for The National Theatre of Namibia. He has directed four shows for Derek Nimmo's British Airways Playhouse which toured the Middle and Far East.

He co-directed the Opera "Griselda" for the Buxton Festival, and appeared in two productions for Dutch Television with members of the Welsh National Opera.

In Bristol he presents the "Chris Harris Road Show" for BBC Radio Bristol. His book - "Will Kemp, Shakespeare's Forgotten Clown", is published by the Kylin Press. He lectures and runs a Workshop called 'How to Make a Fool of Yourself and Get Away with It!'

He has co-written and starred in Christmas Pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic, for the same years. These productions were:-
1992 Aladdin
1993 Mother Goose
1994 Jack and the Beanstalk
1995 Dick Whittington

KEMP'S JIG

Kemp's Jig tells of one man's Morris Dance from London to Norwich. A true story worthy of the Guinness Book of Records.

Will Kemp, a purveyor of "mad jests and merry jigs", was a famous Elizabethan actor and a shareholder with Shakespeare in the company of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It is probable that many of the Bard's comic roles were written with Kemp in mind. Touchstone, Dogberry and Lancelot Gobbo were brought to life for the first time in Kemp's person. Besides his fame as Shakespeare's clown, he achieved renown for his Morris Dancing. He performed the remarkable feat of dancing from London to Norwich - a distance of 125 miles in nine days. He later recorded this journey in his book The Nine Daies Wonder on which the show is based.

Kemp's Jig has been seen at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, on television, heard on the radio and seen in 47 countries throughout the world thanks to the many international festivals visited and the British Council.

Will Kemp, Shakespeare's forgotten clown, written by Chris Harris is published by Kylin Press.

THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT!

"That's The Way To Do It" traces the history of our love of the seaside. This play portrays 300 years of seaside fun as seen through the eyes of three descendant generations of Punch and Judy men.

In 1730 Martin Powell bewigged and pomanded sets up his booth for the nobs on Brighton Beach.. In 1850 Professor Powell discusses his loathing of children and his puppets. His aspirations lie in the Music Hall.

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, Uncle Jack Powell puts Punch into a tin hat and assures his audience that the problems won't last beyond Christmas.

An Extract from "The Book of Days" says: Powell also set up his puppet show under the Piazza at Convent Garden. He appears to have been humped backed and otherwise slightly deformed. In the Spectator a letter was introduced purporting to come from the Sexton of the Parish of St Paul's, Convent Garden, complaining that when tolls to prayers, "I find my congregation take the warning of my bell, morning and evening, to go to a puppet show, set forth by one Powell under the Piazza. I have placed my son at the Piazza, to acquaint the ladies that the bell rings for Church, and that it stands on the other side of the garden, but they only laugh at the child."

A family show suitable for children from the age group 8 and over.
Written by Chris Harris and John David, also directed by John David.

ALLY SLOPER'S HALF HOLIDAY

A Right Royal Romp through Queen Victoria's England

Ally Sloper's Half Holiday was the name of weekly comic strip which first appeared on 3rd May 1884. Every age has it's famous comic and cartoon characters. Present generations, growing up with Alf Garnet and Andy Capp may not yet have heard of Ally Sloper, yet from 1884 until the 1920s the red nosed social climber who poked fun at the English people and their customs was a household name and national favourite.

Ally Sloper takes us into the realms of the first comic strip character, forget Beano and Dandy. This comic strip started it all. Here is a man who became an institution, a national hero. People actually believed that he existed, they even wrote to him and joined his club. There were medals presented in his name. He represented the hopes and aspirations of a whole new class of people. Brought about by the industrial revolution. The Aristocracy was under threat with the present class dilemmas. The Victorian Alf Garnet takes us right back to basics.

Chris Harris now recreates Ally in a performance which gives us scenes set in Ascot, Henley, Lords and upon the battle fields of the Empire. A hilarious glimpse of the past, Harris proves himself a modern master of stand-up comedy, beguiling his audience with his infectious good humour and charm.. A family show suitable for children from the age group 11 and over.

Written by Chris Harris and Chris Denys, also directed by Chris Denys.