When actor Saul Reichlin was taken ill last week, it looked like curtains for his solo show at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town, north London, in which he  plays the Yiddish writer Shalom Aleichem.

The performer missed a week of shows, being treated for internal bleeding with tests and transfusions.

But now he has vowed that the show must go on, offering free tickets to audiences for the show until November 25.

He’s happy to refund any tickets which have already been paid for and welcome anyone who would like to come as his guests to help make up for having been unable to perform as planned due to the untimely stay in hospital.

The JC's theatre critic John Nathan gave it four stars and praised Mr Reichlin’s “wry smile and a good deal of charisma.”

Mr Reichlin said: “It cuts to the heart of an actor to have to cancel a show, and only when a complete collapse made performing impossible did it become inevitable

“I actually did a show before my transfusions, but I was exhausted and wet through, with chest pains, so I had no choice. Doctors were amazed I did the show in that condition, and said I must have done it on adrenaline alone. It certainly felt like it!

“Now I want to make up for all the disruption and disappointment of cancelled shows and wasted journeys, so I’m opening the doors and my heart to all who would like to come as my guests, to my show.

"Those who have seen it have made a special point of telling me they loved the show, and 4 and 5 stars don’t lie! Come and enjoy with me my return to health and the show.”

The show is on at the The Lion and Unicorn Theatre, 42 – 44 Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, London NW5 2ED.