News just in: Drop The Dead Donkey is back!
Many a cast of a hallowed television comedy have taken to the stage of Nottingham Theatre Royal over the years – Dad’s Army, ‘Allo ‘Allo, Hi-De-Hi, to name but a few. It’s such a winning concept when you think about it because it allows the fans of these beloved shows a chance to see their iconic characters in the flesh and up close. Such shows tend to do well at the box office and that’s because they have a ready-made audience of enthusiastic viewers delighted by such an opportunity. Drop The Dead Donkey – The Reawakening falls into this same category. First appearing back in 1990 on Channel Four, it was set in the offices of fictional newsroom “Globelink News” and could perhaps best be described as a mash up of topical satire (in the vein of ‘Have I Got News For You’) and Sitcom. It was so extraordinarily innovative back in the day because it was filmed late in the week of broadcast to allow it to include topical news references as and when they broke. It was written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, the formidable team who would go on to create ‘Outnumbered’ amongst other firm family favourites. It was edgy and fresh and won huge viewing figures and many plaudits – not least of all Best Comedy at the 1994 BAFTA awards. It was also ranked as number 94 out of 100 Greatest TV Shows by the British Film Institute back in 2000. Drop The Dead Donkey took a final bow from our screens in 1998 with a plot that saw the closure of Globelink News and all the key characters sadly parting company to pastures new. This new stage treatment sees them back together again with the opening of a new media outfit – “Truth News”!
The joy of a reunion gang show such as this is always in seeing the old rivalries, friendships and personality clashes back centre stage and this show does not disappoint in this regard. The original cast are here in force. Robert Duncan is completely unchanged as Gus the pompous boss of the organisation who is oblivious to how he is perceived by those around him. Duncan clearly relishes every moment of playing this role and has some corking aphorisms, as well as some quite brilliant moments of interaction with Neil Pearson’s Dave, the master of witty asides whose sarcasm knows no bounds.
A firm favourite of the Nottingham crowd is Stephen Tompkinson as Damien the newsreader with few scruples and who, it seems, would rather be doing anything other than his current job. Ingrid Lacey as Helen provides some steadying rational normality in amongst the chaotic madness. Victoria Wicks and Susannah Doyle make a return as office stirrers Sally and Joy respectively giving us archetypal media folk who are so unspeakably (and yet hilariously) awful that we can’t help but love to hate them. My personal favourite was always Jeff Rawle’s George and I’m delighted to say that he does not disappoint. He has a few bits of deliciously joyful theatrical ‘business’, including a fraught relationship with the office’s new ‘voice activated’ coffee machine. He is by far the most sympathetic character in the show and this is due to the charming way that he is played.
The joy of this piece is that these characters are all that we hope they will be – little has changed since the small screen outings – and time has only served to bring greater relish in the way that they are served up to us by a cast who look to be enjoying being back in the company of their audience.
The direction by Derek Bond is clever, particularly in the way the news broadcasts are delivered. We always feel that we are watching from behind the scenes, and this makes us feel part of the action. The set is a work of magnificence. Peter McKintosh has perfectly captured the busy garishness of a rolling news broadcasting studio, with video design by Dan Light allowing us to see supposed text communications from the viewing public many of which are hilarious in themselves. Lighting by Peter Mumford does an excellent job of reminding us when we are ‘on air’ and ‘off air’.
As plots go, it would be fair to say that this is not the most complex or sophisticated piece of theatre you’ll see this year. However, it is funny – a truly wonderful parody of the likes of GB News and other such modern media outlets. There are still topical news references (some of which were inserted today by all accounts) and this makes it feel edgy anew.
If you, like me, watched and enjoyed the original TV show then you’re in for a treat. If you’ve never seen the TV show, don’t fear – the quality of writing and performance stands up and speaks for itself. Well worth a visit to the Theatre Royal Nottingham – playing until 27th April 2024.
