More accustomed to performing in arenas and large halls, comedian and actor Eddie Izzard presents two solo shows this week at a Cornwall village hall.

Eddie – who identifies as gender fluid and has been using female pronouns since 2020 – has been in Cornwall for the past week rehearsing his reading of Dickens’ Great Expectations and a solo version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Both shows will be performed at St Ervan Village Hall, near Wadebridge, on Thursday March 24, at 2pm and 8pm. All profits will go to the upkeep of the hall.

The unique performances are in collaboration with the Hall for Cornwall. A spokesperson for the venue said: “Eddie Izzard is currently in rehearsal to create a solo performance of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is also presenting previews of a solo adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.”

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Unsurprisingly, since Eddie is such a big star, tickets for the intimate performances sold out within minutes of going on sale on Saturday. To be added to the waiting list, please email [email protected] with your name and phone number.

The 60-year-old comic was recently seen joining Plymouth Olympian diver Tom Daley in his grueling four-day Comic Relief Hell of a Homecoming challenge when he rowed, swam and ran from Stratford Olympic Park to his hometown in Devon. Eddie previously presented his comedy show Stripped at the Hall for Cornwall in 2008 and brought his Force Majeure tour to the Eden Project in 2013.