IT’S GOING to be a challenge that any actor would relish: just how do you recreate the zany, madcap mind of one of the Goons?
Next year, The Watermill in Newbury is presenting the premiere of Spike, a look at the complex life of Spike Milligan.
Set in the 1950s, radio rules the roost and The Goons are at the top of the comedy tree.
The nation scramble to get an ear to the wireless to hear The Goon Show, starring Harry Seacombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Benetine and Spike.
While the rest get on with getting the show together, Spike pushes the envelope, not just of comedy, but the group’s relationship with their employers, the BBC.
Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?
The play is written by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and cartoonist Nick Newman.
It will star Olivier Award-winning actor John Dagleish as Spike, with Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Janet.
Stephen Fry will voice the BBC announcer.
Ian Hislop and Nick Newman say: “Writing Spike gave us the opportunity to celebrate the genius of the founding father of modern comedy, explore what inspired him and steal all his jokes”.
And The Watermill’s artistic director, Paul Hart, says: “It’s been great to work with Ian and Nick on this homage to one of the most iconic voices in modern comedy. The play will commemorate twenty years since his death (he’s still ill then?) and will be equally good fun to those who know the Goons and to audiences who are new to Spike’s distinctive brand of humour. And how we all need a laugh at the moment.”
The show comes to The Watermill from Thursday, January 27, through to Saturday, March 5.
For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01635 46044 or log on to www.watermill.org
