HI-DE-HI!

Get ready for a trip to Maplin’s holiday camp because the Yellowcoats are returning to the stage with  a brand new show jam-packed with amusing antics, jokes, sketches and songs.

‘Hi-De-Hi’ has not been seen on stage since it was last in the West End in 1984, but it is on its way to the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage as part of a brand new major tour!

Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (Dad’s Army Marches On), the production which is set in the 1950s, will star Barry Howard and Nikki Kelly who were in the original 1980s TV sitcom as condescending ballroom partners Barry and Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves.

The production which is kicking off in Stevenage will also feature the famous rock ‘n’ roll HI-DE-HI theme – ‘Holiday Rock’ which made the charts in 1981 and was even performed on ‘Top Of The Pops’ as well as a whole host of other great musical numbers.

‘Hi-De-Hi’ was inspired by Jimmy Perry’s own time as a Butlins Redcoat after being de-mobbed from the Army. The story follows Jeffrey Fairbrother (Peter Amory, Emmerdale) as he gives up his job as a University Lecturer to take over as the holiday camp’s Entertainments Manager. He immediately arouses the amorous attentions of Gladys Pugh, the funny Welsh Chief Yellowcoat and Sports Organiser, who tries all she can to get the new man with constant romantic approaches. Whilst Jeffrey has no real idea of how to be the Entertainments Manager, the camp host Ted Bovis (Damian Williams, ‘Are You Smarter Than Your 10 Year Old?’), who thought he was going to be promoted to Jeffrey’s position himself, and his protégé, the naïve but warm-hearted camp comic Spike Dixon, try to keep all the campers amused with their antics, jokes, sketches, song and dance and choruses of ‘Throw him in the Pool’ and of course ‘Hi-De-Hi’.

The cast also features the slightly dubious ex-jockey and camp riding instructor Fred Quilly; the children’s entertainer, who can’t bear children, Uncle Benjy; plus the Chalet Maid Peggy Ollerenshaw (Abigail Finley, ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?’), who dreams of becoming one of the famous Maplins Yellowcoats and a chorus of ‘Yellowcoats’.

Guaranteed to be a huge Box Office success as the characters are as fresh today as they were 30 years ago don’t miss out on this chance to book one of the most nostalgic, funniest and most memorable shows around.