Remember my theatre-loving, 80-something neighbour Dudley? I& #39;ve been phoning him daily during #Londonlockdown, but he& #39;s getting bored & sad. So I& #39;ve come up with a new #DudleysProgrammes project. I hope you can get involved & bring some luvvie love to Dudley alone at home.
In addition to accompanying me to @TheUnionTheatre & @swkplay in the past, Dudley gifted me his lifetime library of programmes. He& #39;s shared many memories about the joy theatre has brought to his life. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⤵️" title="Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards" aria-label="Emoji: Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards">

Let& #39;s bring him so more... #DudleysProgrammes https://twitter.com/TerriPaddock/status/980487729120251905">https://twitter.com/TerriPadd...
Each Sun during #LondonLockdown, I& #39;ll choose 5 of #DudleysProgrammes to share with you here. He tells me his memories. I tell him how people have responded on Twitter each day (he doesn& #39;t even have a computer, constantly asks: am I still on the web?)

Here& #39;s this week& #39;s crop...
So here we go. Today& #39;s pick from #DudleysProgrammes is WINNIE, Robin Hardy& #39;s musical about #WinstonChurchill at the Victoria Palace in 1988. @DMTWestEnd

A good place to start as we invoke the #Blitz spirit! Did you see it? Any memories? #LondonLockdown #Londontheatre
WINNIE starred Robert Hardy (any relation to the writer?) & Virginia McKenna.

& #39;Oh it was marvelous,& #39; says Dudley. & #39;Mind you, I can& #39;t remember any of the songs.& #39; https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎼" title="Musical score" aria-label="Emoji: Musical score">

Here& #39;s the list. I& #39;m creating my own version of Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major. #DudleysProgrammes #lockdown
Headshots just aren& #39;t what they were in the 1980s, right?!

Please someone tell me where Robin Hunt is now? As for Angela Lloyd, I make no judgment: I had that haircut myself back in the day.

#Winnie #DudleysProgrammes #LockdownLife
#WhereAreTheyNow
This musical story of #WinstonChurchill (sort of) appears to include scenes from Downing Street, the battlefield &, um, a dodgy-looking Turkish bath?

#Winnie #DudleysProgrammes #LondonLockdown
What else was playing at the same time as #Winnie? #NoelCoward at the Garrick, @DOylyCarteOpera at the Cambridge & a David Williamson comedy I& #39;ve never heard of called Emerald City at the Lyric. Did you see any of these?

@NimaxTheatres @LWTheatres
#DudleysProgrammes #lockdown
And finally, a little more interactive bit for you: here& #39;s a 1988 #TheatreQuiz from the late critic #SheridanMorley from #Winnie& #39;s programmes.

How many answers can you get right w/o looking? Several are non-time-specific!
#DudleysProgrammes #Londontheatre #lockdown @RnH_Org
Thanks to all who shared memories of #Winnie - Dudley loved it!

Here& #39;s today pick from #DudleysProgrammes: Peter Greenwell& #39;s one-man show A Talent to Amuse, The Words & Music of #NoelCoward at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1996. Did you see it?

#LondonLockdown #theatrethrowback
Dudley says: & #39;To #NoelCoward fans like myself, this was unmissable.& #39;

Is one of these your fave Coward ditty? Lyrics from Why Must the Show Go On seem timely:

Why must the show go on?
It can& #39;t be all that indispensable,
To me it really isn& #39;t sensible

#DudleysProgrammes
What else was happening in 1996 in the #WestEnd?

#LaurenceFishburne was giving his #Othello onscreen with #KennethBranagh. The late #NedSherrin was preparing the 40th anny revival of #SaladDays.

Pls send more of your memories for Dudley!
#DudleysProgrammes #Shakespeare
Awesome #thread of programme collectables from @MTlivesinme. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⤵️" title="Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards" aria-label="Emoji: Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards">

Becky, I talked Dudley thru them all. He was delighted! He said thanks v much too, he& #39;d forgotten that #TommySteele did #HalfASixpence onstage in 1963 before the film. #DudleysProgrammes https://twitter.com/MTlivesinme/status/1244993533842542592">https://twitter.com/MTlivesin...
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is a play I actually saw myself: Charlotte Jones& #39; #HumbleBoy premiered at @NationalTheatre in 2001 with Simon Russell Beale & Diana Rigg. It transferred to the Gielgud where Dudley caught it with Adrian Scarborough & Maria Aitken in 2002. Seen it?
What else was on in 2002? Remember @NationalTheatre& #39;s Transformation? The Lyttelton was carved up into two spaces under AD Trevor Nunn. Amongst other new works, it gave us @SirMattBourne& #39;s #PlayWithoutWords & @royboywilliams& #39; Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads. #DudleysProgrammes
Wonderful contribution to y& #39;day& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick: here& #39;s Mate @johnchapman398 playing Felix Humble in an amdram prod of #HumbleBoy. (You could be #SimonRussellBeale& #39;s doppelganger, John!) https://twitter.com/johnchapman398/status/1245455523870314499">https://twitter.com/johnchapm...
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is #Gigi at the Lyric Theatre in 1985.

Best known as a 1958 MGM film classic (based on Colette& #39;s 1944 novel), it was rewritten for this stage musical, inc 4 new songs & orchestrations by Lerner & Loewe. Did anyone see it? #theatrethrowback
#Gigi& #39;s royal gala raised funds for #PrincePhilip& #39;s appeal for veterans of #WWII. A worthy cause, says Dudley, who was a child during the war, but the production deserved to be a bigger spectacle, like at @TheatreRoyalDL where #MyFairLady broke records. #DudleysProgrammes
Thank heaven for little girls? French film star Jean Pierre Aumont (& #39;very suave& #39;, says Dudley) was Honore in #Gigi onstage alongside British stars #BerylReid & #SianPhillips & a young @WaringAmanda in the title role.

Ping me any messages for Duds on this one! #DudleysProgrammes
Big thanks to @_amandawaring, who from y& #39;day& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes, shared her memories of starring as #Gigi & has given Duds so much joy with her kind messages. Thanks, Amanda! https://twitter.com/_amandawaring/status/1245826119141597187">https://twitter.com/_amandawa...
Did you realise tmw is the weekend?! (It& #39;s hard to tell the days of the week in #lockdown, eh?)

That means today is this week& #39;s final #DudleysProgrammes pick & it& #39;s a flash-bang-wallop one from #HalfASixpence starring #TommySteele... the 1967 film, that is.
I must say, I didn& #39;t know that films used to do programmes like theatre shows. Was this common? Does it happen any more?

Such a great souvenir. Lots of colourful photos, behind-the-scenes info, bios + full cast & creative credits c/o @ParamountPics.

#DudleysProgrammes
Can you imagine a creative& #39;s bio opening with the words & #39;trim & lovely& #39; in 2020?

Here& #39;s #HalfASixpence& #39;s 1967 credits for #GillianLynne, who of course went on to choreograph @CatsMusical @PhantomOpera &, in 2018, have a #WestEnd theatre named after her.

#DudleysProgrammes
Dudley became friends with #HalfASixpence& #39;s & #39;absolute sweetheart& #39; #JuliaFoster, who got the role of Ann after her turn in #Alfie, in the 1990s when they both had stalls at Lisson Grove antiques market.

Will her son @BenFogle tell her Dudley Howe says hello?
#DudleysProgrammes
Lovely @MTlivesinme has already reminded Dudley that #TommySteele originated the role of Kipps onstage in #HalfASixpence, with #MartiWebb as Ann, in 1963. Did you see either the film &/or stage original? #DudleysProgrammes https://twitter.com/MTlivesinme/status/1244997612304039941">https://twitter.com/MTlivesin...
Feel free to share https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart"> too for 2016& #39;s @HalfASixpence at @ChichesterFT & @DMTWestEnd, which featured new @StilesandDrewe songs & made a star of @Charlie_Stemp.

#GetSocial with him @Devonelisejohns @Williamstweet & co @StageFaves: https://www.stagefaves.com/shows/half-a-sixpence/">https://www.stagefaves.com/shows/hal... #DudleysProgrammes
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is #ReJoyce at @FortuneTheatre1 in 1988.

#MaureenLipman co-wrote & performed this one-woman show celebrating the life, songs & writing of #JoyceGrenfell. She was accompanied by #DenisKing (best known for #PrivatesOnParade).
St Trinians? The Happiest Days of Your Life? How well do you know the work of national treasure #JoyceGrenfell (1910-1979)?

With her cut-glass accent (her aunt was Lady Astor) & other qualities, she came to represent & #39;something essentially & vitally English& #39;. #DudleysProgrammes
She certainly struck a chord with #MaureenLipman. Why do #Rejoyce? & #39;B/c she made me laugh. B/c I wanted to be her. B/c I was startled out of my narrow conception of her talent by reading her writings.& #39;

Dudley says Lipman was & #39;fantastic& #39; in it too, & #39;so funny& #39;. #DudleysProgrammes
When did & #39;managers& #39; become & #39;producers& #39;? ( @JamesSeabright @NickHernBooks?) Great note by @FortuneTheatre1& #39;s MD.

The year after #Rejoyce (1989), @Womaninblack_UK moved in & has been there ever since, the #WestEnd& #39;s longest running play after @MousetrapLondon. #DudleysProgrammes
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is #TheBoysInTheBand& #39;s original #WestEnd run at Wyndham& #39;s Theatre in 1969.

Dudley& #39;s friend had an apoplectic fit when Emory demands & #39;Who do you have to fuck get a drink around here?& #39;

& #39;We& #39;d never seen anything like it,& #39; Duds says. Had you? #LGBT
Who do you recognise from 1969& #39;s #TheBoysInTheBand?

I& #39;ve seen #WilliamGaunt in so many plays at @NationalTheatre @TheRSC @oldvictheatre & elsewhere over the years.

Incredible to see then-debutant playwright #MartCrowley& #39;s v young & v moody headshot too. #DudleysProgrammes
Almost unrecognisable from when I was lucky enough to meet #MartCrowley myself when chairing a post-show Q&A for @AdamPenford& #39;s 2016 revival of #TheBoysInTheBand at @ParkTheatre.

Sadly, Crowley passed away last month, aged 86:
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/mar/09/mart-crowley-playwright-dies-boys-in-the-band">https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202... #DudleysProgrammes
What else was on in 1969?

#ManOfLaMancha at @TeamPiccadilly, #BriefLives at @CriTheatre, #AnneOfGreenGables musical at New (then Albery, now Noel Coward) Theatre & a season of new plays under director John Neville at @FortuneTheatre1. Did you see any?

#DudleysProgrammes
Beyond show listings, there’s a definite touch of the #MadMen about the 1969 adverts in #TheBoysInTheBand playbill: interval smoking, Rover, a roll in the hay & #OliverTwist as a hippy. #DudleysProgrammes
If you have memories of #TheBoysInTheBand - 1969, 1997 or 2016/7 (I https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart"> this prod) - pls tweet so I can share with isolated Dudley!

I& #39;m looking at you @Markgatiss @IanHallard @danielboys @jamesholmes19 @mrjackderges @GregLockett @benmansfield9 @AdamPenford! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands">

#DudleysProgrammes
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is 1982& #39;s #UnderneathTheArches. The musical telling the story of singing & comedy legends Flanagan & Allen transferred from @ChichesterFT to the Prince of Wales Theatre where the duo had last performed in 1946.

Did you see it? @DMTWestEnd
#RoyHudd (who sadly passed away just last month) & #ChristopherTimothy starred as Flanagan & Allen.

Dudley says: & #39;Where can you go wrong celebrating this superb duo?& #39; He also loved all the skits from their time with the #CrazyGang at the Victoria Palace.

#DudleysProgrammes
Are Flanagan & Allen in your cultural DNA?

The music hall comedians were popular in 1930s & 40s. In addition to signature tune Underneath the Arches, their hits included Run Rabbit, Run & Shine on Harvey Moon. Looks like they kept spirits up on the Home Front. #DudleysProgrammes
What else was on in the #WestEnd in 1982?

Agatha Christie& #39;s @MousetrapLondon was in its 30th year (68th now) &, despite critical panning, farce No Sex Please, We& #39;re British was in its 11th, having transferred to its 2nd of 3 homes (Strand, Garrick, Duchess).

#DudleysProgrammes
Thanks to #MaureenLipman, @amysrrose @_amandawaring @CliveChenery @MTlivesinme @gilchristawake + @BoysBandPlay& #39;s @jamesholmes19 @GregLockett @mrjackderges & all who& #39;ve shared memories from #DudleysProgrammes. Keep & #39;em coming!

You& #39;re making a lovely man very happy - & me too. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands">
Dudley says #JohnThaw was & #39;excellent& #39; as the politician who, passion smothered by cautious advisors, fails to win over voters.

#TheAbsenceOfWar premiere cast also included Clare Higgins, Adrian Scarborough & Oliver Ford Davies. Any @NationalTheatre memories? #DudleysProgrammes
What else was on in 1993?

Over at @BarbicanCentre, @TheRSC& #39;s was finishing its London season with #TomStoppard& #39;s Travesties & Michael Hasting& #39;s new play Unfinished Business.

(Had RSC & @NationalTheatre started their annual Xmas quiz by that point?) #DudleysProgrammes
Also spotted in #TheAbsenceOfWar programme: this ad for Bridge Lane Theatre in #Battersea. Before my time in the UK & I& #39;d never heard of this venue. What a stellar line-up for the fringe!

@TheatresTrust says it was demolished years ago. Did you ever visit?
#DudleysProgrammes
Today& #39;s #DudleysProgrammes pick is the one he& #39;s MOST been looking forward to sharing with you this week: Mike Ockrent& #39;s revival of classic Noel Gay musical #MeAndMyGirl, with a revised book by @stephenfry.

It ran at Adelphi Theatre for 3303 perfs 1985-1993. Did you see it? #SF
In addition to the title song, #MeAndMyGirl& #39;s songs include An English Gentleman, Once You Lose Your Heart, Leaning on a Lamppost, Take in on the Chin, Love Makes the World Go Round &, of course, The Lambeth Walk.

Which ones can you not get out of your head?

#DudleysProgrammes
Close to home! Dudley & I live v close to the actual Lambeth Walk in #SE. This week I spotted this memorial plaque in our local #ArchbishopsPark to the actor who sang it in #MeAndMyGirl& #39;s 1936 premiere, sparking off a dance craze.

#DudleysProgrammes #Lambeth #SE1
Perhaps more recently you saw @DanielGwynEvans& #39; 2018 @ChichesterFT revival of #MeAndMyGirl? @RealMattLucas & @alexdeboo starred as Bill & Sally.

If you have any memories I can share with my self-isolating elderly neighbour, please do! #LockdownLife #DudleysProgrammes
You can follow @TerriPaddock.
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