What happens when France’s finest tragic actress and her hapless assistant decide to stage their own version of Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator?

The answer is Gloriator – an inventive, physical and above all very silly show about serious actress Gloria Delaneuf and her British assistant Josephine, from comedy duo Spitz & Co, replete with drama, bravery, honour and costumes made out of cardboard.

Gloria and Josephine are the brainchildren of comedians and actors Pauline Morel and Susie Donkin, and Gloriator has been touring the UK since last year and will stop in at Hemel Old Town Hall next week.

“It’s a bit bonkers,“ admits Susie. “We wanted to work together and we both love the film Gladiator and both liked the idea of wearing armour. The characters just came out of that. They’re kind of extensions of ourselves!“

Pauline, who is French herself, plays Gloria who, says Susie, is “everything you imagine a serious French actress would be.

“I’m her idiotic assistant – they’re both idiots, actually – who can’t believe her luck that here she is, actually doing a play. She’s so enthusiastic, she’s trying her best but she has no idea about acting. Gloria takes herself incredibly seriously so it’s a nightmare for her when things go wrong. It’s a totally dysfunctional relationship.“

Far more productive is the relationship between Susie and Pauline, who met two years ago at a clown workshop and immediately set up a comedy duo together, based in Gloucestershire.

Susie is a comedy writer and performer who began her career first working at and then performing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe while she was a student at the University of Edinburgh.

She formed the double act McDougall & Donkin with her friend Charlotte and went on to become a member of the sketch group Bearded Ladies, which appeared on Radio 4, BBC Two and Channel 4. She’s been involved in all five series of the BAFTA-winning Horrible Histories on CBBC, both as a writer and a performer.

Pauline has a background in theatre as an actor and producer and ran her own theatre company in Paris.

She trained as a clown and is a ‘giggle doctor’ with the Theodora Children’s Trust, working with children in hospital and their families to make them laugh.

The pair have already created another show featuring Gloria and Josephine – Glorilla, in which Gloria reinvents herself as an animal communicator after a life-changing experience in the African jungle.

“Pauline ponces about in a bikini and I, as Josephine, basically have to wear a gorilla costume all the time,“ laughs Susie.

“When I was starting out I maybe dreamed of being a bit more of a serious actress but, you know, this is much better.“

  • Gloriator is at The Old Town Hall, High Street, Old Town, Hemel Hempstead, on Friday, May 29 at 8pm. Details: 01442 228091, oldtownhall.co.uk