Dad's Army - Programme, 1976
Title
Dad's Army - Programme, 1976
Date
12 April 1976
Description
Full programme for Dad's Army, the stage version of the popular BBC TV series.
What's the story?
The popular television programme Dad’s Army was adapted into a stage show by its original writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft with most of the original cast, including Arthur Lowe, John le Mesurier, Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn, Arnold Ridley, Bill Pertwee and Frank Williams. Jimmy Perry and David Croft also directed the show.
The show is in the form of a review with songs. It toured nationally from 23 March to 4 September 1976, playing the Theatre Royal Nottingham week beginning 12 April.
It was first shown on television in 1968 and was a sitcom about the British Home Guard during the Second World War.
When the show opened in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 2 October 1975 there was a surprise appearance by Chesney Allen who sang, together with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring, the old Flanagan and Allen song Hometown.
Allen had been in a double act with Bud Flanagan who performed the theme song for Dad’s Army ‘Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler?’ written by Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner as a gentle pastiche of wartime songs.
In 2007 there was a stage revival of Dad’s Army starring Leslie Graham as Private Walker and Peter Martin as Captain Mainwaring. This did not appear at the Theatre Royal.
Films of the TV series were also made in 1971 and 2016.
In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since the show was first shown, the Royal Mail have produced a set of stamps depicting scenes from the television series.
The other wartime comedy sitcom “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum”, also by Croft and Perry is not being repeated on television, unlike Dad’s Army.
It is interesting to note that under Prices of Admission there is a “special price for Old Age Pensioners at all performances except Saturday evening of 75p per seat”.
That didn’t apply to me when I saw the show in Nottingham, but I now fall into that category!
The show is in the form of a review with songs. It toured nationally from 23 March to 4 September 1976, playing the Theatre Royal Nottingham week beginning 12 April.
It was first shown on television in 1968 and was a sitcom about the British Home Guard during the Second World War.
When the show opened in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 2 October 1975 there was a surprise appearance by Chesney Allen who sang, together with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring, the old Flanagan and Allen song Hometown.
Allen had been in a double act with Bud Flanagan who performed the theme song for Dad’s Army ‘Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler?’ written by Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner as a gentle pastiche of wartime songs.
In 2007 there was a stage revival of Dad’s Army starring Leslie Graham as Private Walker and Peter Martin as Captain Mainwaring. This did not appear at the Theatre Royal.
Films of the TV series were also made in 1971 and 2016.
In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since the show was first shown, the Royal Mail have produced a set of stamps depicting scenes from the television series.
The other wartime comedy sitcom “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum”, also by Croft and Perry is not being repeated on television, unlike Dad’s Army.
It is interesting to note that under Prices of Admission there is a “special price for Old Age Pensioners at all performances except Saturday evening of 75p per seat”.
That didn’t apply to me when I saw the show in Nottingham, but I now fall into that category!
Type
Programme
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researcher: Margaret Littlehales
