REVIEW - Dad's Army Radio Show, South Holland Centre, Thursday 20th June 2025 - ****
- theatrereviews
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
From a distance of approaching sixty years since the first broadcast, it’s extremely difficult to conjure up the title of another sitcom that has been preserved with such glowing affection. There are no grounds for it to suffer from the current ‘cancel culture’, and the show still enjoys regular reruns across the BBC platforms. Despite being set in 1939-1942, it’s a timeless phenomenon, loved by generation after generation; equally, it’s quotable, iconic catchphrases, characters and memorable plots make it easy to share and remain omnipresent.
Which brings us to 2025… After a 2016 film, ‘lost’ episodes being recreated separately through animation and live action, we’re now back with performers and Dad’s Army fans David Benson and Jack Lane as they present the latest of their hugely successful ‘radio show’ incarnations, taking to their mics, scripts-in-hand, khaki-clad and positively brimming with assured talent.
In previous iterations, they’ve focused on the ‘best hits’ of the eighty-episode-strong sitcom, however, this time, as the brochure alludes to, the spotlight is on the latter series, i.e. those episodes which weren’t given the radio adaptation treatment, due to the ill health and advancing years of the original cast members. So, we’re treated to the classic 1975 Christmas special ‘The Love of Three Oranges’, ‘The Miser’s Hoard’ and ‘The Making of Private Pike’, episodes that, in a general way of speaking, focus more on one core member of the platoon rather than the more typical ‘gang-show’ flavour of the earlier years.
There is no set as such, and the sound design, although strong and effective, is all electronic, so there are areas within the production which could strive for a more authentic realisation of a 1970s recording session / live broadcast. However, you could equally argue that by stripping back all of this (including the size of the cast), we are instead celebrating, more than anything, and more than ever, the sheer brilliance of Jimmy Perry’s and David Croft’s scripts. In this, the production is extremely successful.
Benson and Lane impersonate the original actors and their mannerisms with finite and commendable precision. Watching them do so is a powerful nostalgia trip. There’s quirky relationships and a smattering of ribaldry which I’d forgotten, all part of the fabric of this British evergreen stalwart. Where the script occasionally falls down or a joke doesn’t present as well as it originally did, there is plenty of goodwill built into the audience. Furthermore, the charisma and genuine bonhomie between the actors is second-to-none. They also integrate a handful of physical comedy moments and occasional exaggerated facial expressions; it’s enough to build on their voice work rather than distract from it.
I caught a few audience members wistfully closing their eyes, and the experiment proves the point – take away the aesthetics, and the resonance with the original cast was quite eerie; each character (and the supporting roles are in abundance here) is immediately recognisable.
The theatricality of the event, on very rare occasions, does, however, detract from the comedy. There’s just no hiding it… Dad’s Army is a very visual sitcom, even by this period of original run, and the numerous comings and goings during the auction/fare sequence or the slapstick revolving around the various placings of rank within a staff car in another episode do not lend themselves to this medium, despite the gallant efforts of the performers. But these moments are very few and far between. For a sharp, comedy nostalgia hit, and a masterclass in performance and mimicry, this is the ticket for you.
Dad's Army Radio Show is touring until 9th July 2025. Please visit their website for all future dates and booking.
Dad’s Army Radio Show is a strong-recommend from me for fans of the sitcom. Close your eyes, and you could be watching the original cast up there on that stage. Pike’s
Comments