Critically acclaimed Die Hard retelling, 'Yippee Ki Yay' to visit the Theatre Royal Bath

Following a critically acclaimed season at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Yippee Ki Yay, a rhyming, retelling of the classic film Die Hard, written by multi award-winning Richard Marsh, visits the Ustinov Studio for five performances from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 April 2023.

Due to popular demand, an additional performance has been added to the run in Bath on Saturday 15 April at 3pm.

When gunmen seize an LA skyscraper, off-duty policeman John McClane is the hostages’ only hope. Essential viewing for Hans Gruber superfans and newcomers alike, this uplifting action romp (and unauthorised parody) pays affectionate tribute to the iconic 1980s festive fan favourite. 

One of the Picks of the Fringe in The Stage and recommended by The British Comedy Guide, this joyfully funny show with a content warning for divorce, foot trauma and German terrorists is not to be missed. Yippee Ki Yay is performed by Richard Marsh and Darrel Bailey, who alternate the leading role in this one-man show on tour. 

Writer and performer Richard Marsh’s credits include his one-man show Skittles, which was commissioned for Radio 4 as Love & Sweets, and won Best Scripted Comedy in the BBC Audio Drama Awards. He also co-wrote and performed in Dirty Great Love Story with Katie Bonna, which won a Fringe First in Edinburgh before transferring to New York followed by the West End. His show Wingman, which sold out in Edinburgh before touring, is being developed for television in the UK and America. A former London poetry slam champion, Richard created Radio 4 poetry sitcom Cardboard Heart, starring alongside Phil Daniels, Olivia Poulet, Russell Tovey and Sam Troughton. He is also writing a musical adaptation of classic indie movie Son of Rambow with Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler of Girls Aloud fame.

Darrel Bailey recently performed in Small Island at the National Theatre. His stage credits also include As You Like It, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Twelfth Night at the Open Bar, Oedipus at the Almeida Theatre, Alice in Wonderland at Brockwell Park, Much Ado About Nothing at St Paul’s, Covent Garden, and an immersive production of One Hundred Trillion for Dot Collective. Darrel’s screen credits include Shadow and Bone for Netflix, BBC’s EastEnders and several short films including Role, Fixing War in Post, A&E and The Zero Hour.

Director Hal Chambers has created and directed productions including Sam Rose in the Shadows and The Golden Cowpat in both Greenwich Theatre and on UK tour, and Tim and Light on UK tour. His work as a director also includes Dare Me to the Desert at Kings Head Theatre, The Elephant in the Room at New Wimbledon Theatre and The Fastest Clock in the Universe at Bristol’s Alma Tavern Theatre.

Movement and associate director for Yippee Ki Yay is Emma Webb with lighting design by Robbie Butler. Ben Hudson is sound designer and composer.

Yippee Ki Yay appears at the Ustinov Studio at the Theatre Royal Bath from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 April. Tickets are on sale from the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on +44 (0)1225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov.