Well, we did it folks! We celebrated 75 Years of The Goon Show in style with the magnificent performances of ‘The Seagoon Memoirs’ and ‘The Phantom Headshaver (of Brighton)’ at the University of York’s Scenic Stage Theatre on 17th October. The day also featured an introduction by Gary Brannan, describing the archive of Goon Show and other comedy material which the university holds.
The Goon Show Preservation Society, University of York, Age UK York and Birmingham Comedy Festival achieved something not even the BBC could do and commemorated an important milestone. Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this possible: Gary Brannan, Birmingham Comedy Festival, Age UK York, YOPA York 50 Plus Festival, staff and volunteers from University of York, Richard Usher, Janice Desler, Colin Silk, Duncan Gray, Chris Smith, Peter Embling and Julie Warren from the mighty GSPS, Pete Lindup and the Wyre Levee Stompers, Pete Hewitt, and of course our GoonShow cast Robin Colvill, Mark Earby, Jimm Rennie, Richard Usher, ably assisted by theatre technician Roberto Del Pino, and sound supremo and director Dave Freak.
Special additional thanks to Duncan Gray and Andy Hollingworth for the photography, and to Jane & Sile Milligan and Spike Milligan Productions and the estates of Larry Stephens and Maurice Wiltshire for their kind permission to perform the scripts.
“Now….get out!”
