Director's Notes

It’s a real pleasure to be involved in such a super comedy based upon the long running and well loved television series, Dad’s Army.

Originally intended to be called The Fighting Tigers, but later renamed Dad’s Army, the series was based partly on co-writer and creator Jimmy Perry’s real life experiences in the Local Defence Volunteers (later known as the Home Guard). Perry was only 17 years old when he joined his local platoon and with a mother who did not like him being out at night in the cold he bore more than a passing resemblance to the character Frank Pike!

Perry wrote the first script and gave it to his friend David Croft who was so impressed he sent it to the BBC. The setting was the fictional small town of Walmington-on-Sea, on the south coast of England. The year was 1940 and Britain was standing alone against an enemy preparing for invasion, just a few miles away across the English Channel.

After initial concerns that the series would make fun of the efforts of the Home Guard the first of 80 episodes started in 1968 and ran until 1977. With regular television audiences of 18 million, Dad’s Army provided a comedy that ranged from subtle to slapstick and developed well loved characters that made the series one of the most popular of its time, and one that is still being repeated today.

The well known theme tune was also written by Jimmy Perry and recorded especially for the series and sung by popular war time entertainer Bud Flanagan.

Our three “episodes” this evening are some of the best remembered as each one puts the characters in situations where comedy is always to the fore but we are also reminded of the dangers of that time. The final act, The Floral Dance, was performed by the Dad’s Army team in a Royal Command Variety Performance.

It is quite fitting that exactly 70 years later we re-create the actions of a group of men we can laugh with, but we should always remember that they and many more Home Guard Platoons were ready and willing to face up to the enemy and safeguard our country.

Thank you to all who have appeared in and helped with this production and hope that you, the audience, enjoy the evening and that we will see you again next season.