Together in Electric Dreams & Philip Larkin: Masterspy Comedy Theatre double-bill – in Oldham for one afternoon only!

Manchester theatre company Room 5064 Productions presents two 1980s-set comedies starring real life British icons: poet Philip Larkin reluctantly spies for British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; while tech pioneer Sir Clive Sinclair faces down business rival Alan Sugar… and karaoke.

These plays are touring the North of England separately during Summer and Autumn 2025 but are coming to Oldham in a special double-bill at Billingtons tomorrow (Saturday, September 20). 

Together in Electric Dreams - performing at 2.30pm - is written by Oldhamer Daniel Thackeray, based on an idea by Gareth Kavanagh, directed by Ross Kelly, and stars Steve Cain as Alan Sugar and Thackeray as Sir Clive Sinclair. 

It's 1986. Sir Clive Sinclair, renowned British inventor of the first-ever home computer, the pocket calculator and the C5 electric vehicle, is on the verge of bankruptcy.  

His only option is to meet rival billionaire Alan Sugar and convince him to save the day. But will this business brinkmanship in a karaoke café be a deal with the devil… and will Sir Clive have to sing for his supper? 

The play had several successful tours between 2012 and 2015, going down well with critics and audiences ("A lot of laughs and worth a trip down memory lane" said Manchester Evening News; “Absolutely joyous” said a 2025 audience member) and is now being revived after a 10-year gap. 

Daniel Thackeray said: “The simple story of how the play came to be is that producer Gareth Kavanagh had the initial idea and, after he saw me in the play The Say Can Blues at the Lass O'Gowrie (his pub in those days) in 2011, thought I looked like Sir Clive and approached me about playing the role.  

“Although, I had no idea who Sir Clive was, I said I'd do it if he let me have a go at writing the script. He agreed, and I went away, did a lot of research and wrote the script. Gareth loved it, so we did it, and have kept on doing it!” 

Meanwhile, Philip Larkin: Masterspy - performing at 4pm - is written by Manchester comedy writer Mark Griffiths (BBC Radio 4’s Week Ending, Charlie Brooker’s TV Go Home), directed by Ross Kelly and stars two Oldhamers, Daniel Thackeray as Philip Larkin and Carly Tarett in the multiple roles of Margaret Thatcher, Raisa Gorbacheva, Queen Elizabeth II and Larkin’s girlfriend Monica Jones. 

It is a new play, first performed in Manchester in January this year, and currently on tour to several venues across the country, including Larkin’s old stamping ground, Hull University, on 19th September. 

Pictured above: Carly Tarett as Margaret Thatcher and Daniel Thackeray as Philip Larkin. 

1985. Tasked by Margaret Thatcher to carry out an audacious piece of international espionage that could alter the course of the Cold War, poet Philip Larkin must steal a top-secret document from the handbag of Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev's wife, Raisa. But can the Hermit of Hull – ageing, infirm and almost pathologically grumpy – really turn James Bond and complete his dangerous mission? 

Mark Griffiths said: “I woke up laughing, which is a neat trick if you can do it. Writers often have ideas in their sleep, and I knew this was a keeper: Philip Larkin as the unwilling protagonist of a spy thriller.  

“I wrote the play for my friends, actors Daniel Thackeray and Carly Tarett, because I knew each would be ideally suited to their roles.” 

Daniel Thackeray added: “I don’t know what it is about me that makes writers and producers think I’ll be a good choice to play these tall, gangly, bald, nerdy Englishmen. Except of course that I’m all those things! It’s a real privilege to represent these iconic figures.” 

Separate tickets for each play can be booked via fatsoma.com/room-5064-productions, costing £10 full price or £5 concessionary, or customers can buy a discount double-bill ticket at £18 full price or £10 concessionary. The plays are suitable for audiences of 15+. 

Video trailers for both plays are on YouTube: Together in Electric Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn76BjkJETU Philip Larkin: Masterspy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHwuGq3XFa4