60 Years of Radio Comedy

Hancock's Half Hour by Ray Galton & Alan Simpson

Clare in the Community by Harry Venning and David Ramsden

Directed by Steve Foster

30 & 31 October 2015         Hatfield Heath Village Hall

 

 

Recreations of studio recordings of two BBC shows spanning the years.

 

Hancock's Half Hour

Cast

Tony Hancock            Mark Ratcliff

Kenneth Williams       Andy Prangnell

Bill Kerr                    Ian Kettridge

Moira Lister               Simone Perry

Sid James                  Martin Bedwell

 

Clare in the Community

Cast

Clare                        Jaki Newman

Helen/Thomas            Simone Perry

Nali/Megan                Sarah Wiggins

Simon                        Martin Bedwell

Brian                         Mark Ratcliff

Irene                         Joan Lanario

Ray                           Andy Prangnell

 

Production Credits

Lighting & Sound       Derek Foster & Roger Newman

Set Painting               Derek Foster

Costumes                   Dot Sharp

Poster/Programme      Clive Weatherley

Front of House            Margaret Lines & friends

Box Office                  Village Tea Rooms

 

 

Herts & Essex Observer  |  Posted: October 27, 2015

 

Shouting schoolchildren help Hatfield Heath group's production of classic radio comedy

 

Shouting schoolchildren have provided an unlikely audio aid to Hatfield Heath's award-winning drama group.

When Heath Players started planning for their celebration of 60 years of radio comedy they were faced with the prospect of producing some challenging sound effects.

The group will perform two classic radio scripts – Hancock’s Half Hour from the 1950s and Clare in the Community from 2009.

The later script has scenes in a school playground and another of youngsters joining a protest to save their local community centre.

The Players contacted Rob Aiken, deputy head at the Hatfield Heath Primary School. He immediately agreed that pupils could take part in a recording session to get the necessary effects.

Drama group director Steve Foster and sound man Derek Foster recently attended the school and recorded the pupils in the playground and chanting slogans that were required for the show.

Steve said: 'The children were great. They were so enthusiastic and were really interested in how we would use the recordings. We got some great audio that we can incorporate into the performance."

The show, with curtains up at 8pm, will be on October 30 and 31 at Hatfield Heath Village Hall. Tickets, from the village tea rooms, cost £7 and can be bought by calling 01279 730544 or online at www.ticketsource/heathplayers.