Two Halves of Guinness

Wednesday 21 October 2026
19:45 21:45

Salisbury Playhouse: The Salberg Studio Malthouse Lane Salisbury, England, SP2 7RA United Kingdom (map)

Google Calendar ICS

Sir Alec Guinness’ commanding performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars secured his fame for future generations.

Yet after a distinguished career as one of Britain’s greatest actors, the double-Oscar-winning star of over 70 films feared he would only be remembered as a Jedi Knight.

Two Halves of Guinness reveals a mysterious life story worthy of the darkest Ealing Comedies, revisiting his most memorable characters and encountering a galaxy of stars along the way.

Zeb Soanes (Classic FM, BBC Radio 4) stars as Alec Guinness in a play written by Mark Burgess and directed by Selina Cadell (Eddie Izzard's Great Expectations, Hamlet; Miles Jupp in The Life I Lead).

Two Halves of Guinness marks the 25th anniversary of Sir Alec Guinness’ death.

PERFORMANCES at 7.45pm (Thu & Sat Matinee 2.45pm)

TICKETS from £12.50 - £33.50

Book Tickets

Zeb talks about the play in this excerpt from BBC South Today

Posted In: THOG

Mar 30, 2026

I’m playing Alec Guinness — this is how I did it and what his son told me

Zeb Soanes admired the Oscar-winning actor so much he sent him a letter. He reveals how he transformed into the actor for a one-man play Two Halves of Guinness

THE TIMES

Mar 17, 2026

Zeb Soanes reveals why his stroke at age of 44 pushed him to star in play about Alec Guinness

After a stroke in 2021, Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes has got his dream job — playing 33 roles in a show about Sir Alec Guinness.

RADIO TIMES

Feb 27, 2026

Interview with Zeb Soanes on playing Alec Guinness

A solo performance exploring Sir Alec Guinness’s life is a passion project for Zeb Soanes, he tells Susan Gray.

CHURCH TIMES

Feb 16, 2026

The things that made me

The voice of the Shipping Forecast for 22 years, and now the presenter of Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM, Zeb Soanes, 49, is an actor, children's author and Chancellor of the University of Suffolk. In his show, Two Halves of Guinness, touring the UK this year, Zeb is playing his hero Alec Guinness.

CANDIS MAGAZINE

Feb 2, 2026

First look images released for Two Halves of Guinness

First images released of Zeb Soanes as Alec Guinness in Mark Burgess’ play Two Halves of Guinness

BROADWAY WORLD

Jan 29, 2026

BBC South Today: Two Halves of Guinness

BBC South Today visited Zeb Soanes in Covent Garden during rehearsals for Two Halves of Guinness

BBC SOUTH TODAY

Jan 1, 2026

Playing the many faces of Alec Guinness in 'Two Halves of Guinness'

Jonathahn Moran talks to Zeb Soanes about his research into playing Sir Alec Guinness in the play Two Halves of Guinness.

GUINNESS IS SMILEY BLOG

Dec 10, 2025

Lovely day for a Guinness

To Zeb Soanes, Sir Alec Guinness wasn't only George Smiley — he was the reason the writer, presenter and actor sought out the spotlight ...

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE

Nov 18, 2025

Zeb Soanes honoured as Lay Canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral

On the Feast of St Edmund, St Edmundsbury Cathedral recognises those who have demonstrated ‘exemplary and unusual service to the Cathedral’ by bestowing lay and honourary canon titles. The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, says, “To have Zeb join our College of Canons is an honour and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to Cathedral life.”

Nov 12, 2025

Benjamin Britten statue unveiled by Sir John Rutter

A new bronze statue of Benjamin Britten by the Royal sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, has taken its place on Lowestoft’s seafront after years of planning and community fundraising.

CLASSIC FM

Sep 25, 2025

Zeb Soanes to star as Alec Guinness in UK Tour

In an exceptional exploration of one of Britain’s greatest actors, Zeb Soanes brings the life of Sir Alec Guinness to stage across the UK, marking the 25th anniversary of his death.

GREEN ROOM ENTS

Sep 8, 2025

Zeb Soanes appointed new University of Suffolk Chancellor

Zeb succeeds Dr Helen Pankhurst as the second Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, voted University of the Year in the 2025 WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

Jun 15, 2025

Zeb Soanes receives prestigious Betjeman Society Award

Zeb was presented with The Betjeman Society Award. The award is given annually to the person, group or organisation that has made the most significant recent contribution to the understanding or enjoyment of the life and work of Sir John Betjeman.

THE BETJEMAN SOCIETY

Feb 11, 2025

Brian Cox & Nicole Ansari on Bach play 'The Score'

Multi-award winning star of 'Succession' Brian Cox and actor Nicole Ansari join Classic FM's Zeb Soanes to discuss their roles as J.S. Bach and Anna Magdalena Bach in the upcoming stage play, 'The Score'. Written by Oliver Cotton and directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, the play comprises Bach's life and work at the court of the musical royal - and 'flawed flautist' - Frederick the Great.

Nov 22, 2024

Cynthia Erivo on singing, stunts and Defying Gravity in 'Wicked'

For Classic FM, Zeb talked to Cynthia Erivo, arguably one of the biggest stars on the planet just now, on the release of the film Wicked and her gravity defying performance as Elphaba.

Fundraising complete for Lowestoft's Britten as a Boy statue

On Benjamin Britten’s birthday, Zeb announced that the fundraising target for his hometown statue of Benjamin Britten has been reached. The statue will be unveiled summer 2025.

Jul 5, 2024

Sir Simon Russell Beale's Life in Music with Zeb Soanes

In this exclusive concert, recorded at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Sir Simon talked to Zeb about the highlights of his career, and how music has marked them.

Mar 29, 2024

Dame Judi's Classical Favourites with Zeb Soanes

Dame Judi Dench welcomes Zeb Soanes into her home, to reveal her favourite pieces of classical music. In an exclusive programme for Classic FM, broadcast on Good Friday, Judi tells Zeb how she has treasured this music, connected to her long and glittering life and career.

Feb 1, 2024

Zeb's Classic FM show attracts 1.3 million listeners each week

The latest RAJAR figures have been announced and 158,000 new listeners are joining Zeb for three hours of relaxing music each evening from 7-10pm on Classic FM, making a total audience of 1.3 million for his show each week.

Oct 9, 2023

Zeb hosts Wigmore Hall gala that raises £20,000 for hometown statue of 'Britten as a Boy'

Zeb hosts a star-studded gala at Wigmore hall, raising £20,000 for his home town’s Britten as a Boy statue.

WIGMORE HALL

Jul 21, 2023

The History of Music

Zeb explains The History of Music … with arguably the smartest explanation of Schoenberg you’ll ever see!

RAINER HERSCH ORCHESTRA

Jul 6, 2023

Listen to Gaspard's Foxtrot!

You can now listen to the musical tale of Gaspard’s Foxtrot, read by its author Zeb Soanes, accompanied by Jonathan Dove’s exciting score.

PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA

Apr 19, 2023

Zeb to host Britten statue gala at Wigmore Hall

Zeb will host a '“dazzling" gala celebrating the musical legacy of his home town's most famous son at the Wigmore Hall later this year. It will take place as part of an ongoing appeal to raise funds to install a statue of Benjamin Britten, as a boy, looking out over the sea that inspired his music in his birth town of Lowestoft.

LOWESTOFT JOURNAL

Nov 23, 2022

It the Shoes Fit

Royalty, James Bond and a lame dog have all benefitted from John Lobb’s exquisite shoe-making craftsmanship during the past 173 years, says Zeb Soanes.

COUNTRY LIFE

Nov 5, 2022

Zeb Soanes become Norwich Puppet Theatre Patron

The broadcaster and children's author Zeb Soanes has become a patron of Norwich Puppet Theatre.

BBC NEWS

Oct 20, 2022

Homeless charity benefits from Gaspard's Christmas

Inspired by J.M. Barrie’s generosity, Zeb announces that royalties from the sale of his new book Gaspard’s Christmas will benefit St Martin-in-the-Fields homeless charity in perpetuity.