Anonymous Players

 

 

 

 

Production Details

230th Production - Dads’ Army a comedy by Jimmy Perry and David Croft

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Presented at Lowther Pavilion - 10 to 13 August 2005.

Directed by Alan Veale.

 

 

 

 

Outline of Play

Sixty years ago, men from all walks of life, who had never seen active service in the recent world conflict, handed in their weapons and uniforms. They went back to their normal way of life, happy to have made some contribution in the defence of their country. These were the Home Guard, volunteers too young or too old for active service in the forces – the often unsung heroes of the Second World War.  Their place in history was often overlooked, and their efforts usually unnoticed.

But then, over twenty years later, one of their number started to put pen to paper – and the result was a television series that was to immortalise the Home Guard forever – not just in Britain, but throughout the world!  Jimmy Perry had been a teenager when he joined his local platoon, and his idea for a comedy series met with the instant approval of BBC producer David Croft.  The rest, as they say, is history…

The success of what was to become known as “Dad’s Army” was a combination of inspired casting, and some wonderful scripts.  Croft had begun his war service as an Air-Raid Warden, and he and Perry applied much of their own experiences, and those of their peers, to the scripts.  Theirs was an affectionate and warm-hearted view of life in the Home Guard, and the sensitive portrayal by a distinguished cast produced a classic of its kind, combining hilarity with a nostalgic charm that keeps it unique in the annals of television comedy.

The show ran for nine years, and still gets repeat showings all over the world.  It made the transition to radio, featured in the Royal Variety Performance, and then became a stage show for the first time in 1975.  The “nostalgic music and laughter show” ran at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London for 5 months before taking a nation-wide tour for a further seven.  The show featured some short sketches with the platoon, but the emphasis was on music, and forties nostalgia. 

 

 

 

 

 

  Cast

 

Captain Mainwaring

David Lee

 

Sergeant Wilson

Roy Winter

 

Lance Corporal Jones

Rod Pothecary

 

Private Frazer

John Lomax

 

Private Godfrey

Ian Rowe

 

Private Walker

Chris Slack

 

Private Pike

Andrew Gregson

 

Private Cheesman

Derek Winward

 

Private Sponge

Daniel Morris

 

Private Hancock

John Kilroy

 

Private Meadows

Nigel Thorne

 

Private Day

Barry Parker

 

Vicar

Peter Billcliffe

 

U-Boat Captain

Alf Betts

 

Colonel

Peter Billcliffe

 

Mrs. Pike

Ann Dawson

 

Mrs. Fox

Joy Banks

 

Mrs. Grey

Shirley Croasdale

 

Ivy Samways

Gemma Patterson

 

Edith Parish

Andrea Lee

 

Miss Ironside

Gill Winward

 

Mrs Prosser

Diane Lee

 

Cheeseman

Derek Winward

 

Warden Hodges

Jeff Redfern

 

Verger (Mr Yeatman)

John Lucius

 

Mr. Gordon (Town clerk)

Doug Hudson

 

Waitresses

Annette Norton and Gemma Patterson

 

German Sailors, Wardens, Servicemen

Stephen Gallacher, Byron Jacob, Malcolm Conchie

 

 

Darren Elliott, Jamie McGurk, John Lucius

 

Bathing Belles

Lauren Winward, Giuliana Nicholson

 

 

Katie Moore, Anna Cross

 

Singers

Eddie and Pat Stott, Audrey Hopkins

 

 

 

 

  Stage Crew

 

Stage Manager

Chris Jones

 

Sound

Michael Ward

 

Lighting

Chris Beardmore

 

Set Design and Construction

Members of the society

 

Prompt

Barbara Bramley

 

Properties

Sue Dale

 

Set Dressing

Heather Town and Eileen Stanning

 

Costumes

Eileen Stanning