"In the play," according to press notes, "he knocks back a few drinks and shares his incredible life story. From the boyhood excitement of learning he was a descendant of Peter the Great, through the success of Oliver!, boozy adventures with Keith Moon and disastrous chat show appearances, this was a life well lived. But though Ollie may appear an unstoppable force of nature, this is Malta in 1999, and time is fast running out for the 'Wild Thing.'"

Reed's son Mark has commented of the performance, "Captures his very spirit. Superbly entertaining."

Co-writer and performer Crouch is one-half of the sketch duo Clarkson and Crouch and co-creator of the comedy podcast The Paranormalists. Previous theatre credits include Moll Flanders (Perth Festival Theatre and tour) and Officer Klein in Arsenic and Old Lace (West End).

His co-writer Davis is an Emmy-nominated film and TV producer, specializing in animation. Credits include "Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real," "Stephen Hawking's Universe" for Channel 4 and ITV1's recent "March of the Dinosaurs."

The play is directed by Kate Bannister, artistic director of the Jack Studio Theatre, where she has directed Borderland, Around the World in 80 Days, Secrets from the Long Grass, Chocolate Bounty, Sleepy Hollow, Agamemnon, She Stoops to Conquer, Fighting, The Hound of the Baskervilles and Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! It is produced by Arrow Media, Skullduggery and Seabright Productions.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 264 2140 or visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk for more details.