Prize cabbages and swearing at The Archers roadshow | Letters
Readers hark back to the Ambridge soap’s previous outings around the country Taking The Archers on the road isn’t exactly new (The Archers ‘live theatrical experience’ to tour UK, 26 December). Ask any fan who attended their excellent roadshow in Battersea Park during the mid-1980s. Devised as a harvest festival event under canvas, a number of the Ambridge soap’s stars were involved, notably a singing Eddie Grundy, and Sid Perks, one-time landlord of the Bull, who hosted a quiz. It was especially memorable for me and my late wife because we won a fresh cabbage. Quentin Falk Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire • This is not the first time the cast of The Archers have gone on tour. In the 1980s, they were at a country theatre (possibly the Mill at Sonning in Berkshire), after which they transferred the show to Battersea Park in London. Also, in the 1950s, a professional production toured the UK, although not with the radio cast. I saw it at the Harrow Coliseum in about 1953. It was a little more explicit than the radio show, with the occasional swearword. The plot was about a holiday camp opening near Ambridge, about which the Dan Archer character protested by saying “bloody campers!” Michael Darvell Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Continue reading...
Readers hark back to the Ambridge soap’s previous outings around the country
Taking The Archers on the road isn’t exactly new (The Archers ‘live theatrical experience’ to tour UK, 26 December). Ask any fan who attended their excellent roadshow in Battersea Park during the mid-1980s. Devised as a harvest festival event under canvas, a number of the Ambridge soap’s stars were involved, notably a singing Eddie Grundy, and Sid Perks, one-time landlord of the Bull, who hosted a quiz. It was especially memorable for me and my late wife because we won a fresh cabbage.
Quentin Falk
Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire
• This is not the first time the cast of The Archers have gone on tour. In the 1980s, they were at a country theatre (possibly the Mill at Sonning in Berkshire), after which they transferred the show to Battersea Park in London. Also, in the 1950s, a professional production toured the UK, although not with the radio cast. I saw it at the Harrow Coliseum in about 1953. It was a little more explicit than the radio show, with the occasional swearword. The plot was about a holiday camp opening near Ambridge, about which the Dan Archer character protested by saying “bloody campers!”