LEISURE: The Vicar of Dibley at the Guildhall in Chard

HAVING returned last year to the tradition of putting on show during Carnival Week and staged in association with Chard Carnival Committee, Chard Entertainment group members are bringing a comedy classic to The Guildhall with The Vicar of Dibley.

Produced and directed by Jack Price, this version of the TV favourite features a number of original episodes written by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer. Jack has assembled a highly talented cast, with everyone working hard to bring all the attributes of the well-known characters to the stage.

The Vicar of Dibley was screened by the BBC from 1994 to 2007 and proved to be one of their most successful comedy sit-coms with Dawn French in the lead role of the Reverend Geraldine Grainger.

Set in a fictional small Oxfordshire village, it reveals what happens when the old Revd. Pottle dies and is replaced by a female vicar, following the 1992 changes in the Church of England that permitted the ordination of women!

As the central character originally played by Dawn French, the Reverend Geraldine Grainger is a challenge for any actor, but Caroline Markham’s portrayal will exceed expectations and delight audiences.

Neil Wells takes the role of David Horton, a rather pompous gentleman farmer who is chairman of the parish council, with Andy Treble reprising the role of his sweet-natured son, Hugo.

Hugo is, of course, unknowingly besotted with blonde and dippy Alice Tinker, beautifully played by Judith Izzard, who is also the verger at the parish church.

Parish clerk, Frank Pickle, is brought to life by Dick Arnold and David Penticost gives a very realistic performance as No, no, no, no…Jim Trott.

The Dibley church organist and unusual cook, Letitia Cropley is played very convincingly by Amy Stoodley and the cast is completed by Adam Chudley, as the somewhat unreliable Owen Newitt.

At the author’s request, the performance fees for staging the show have been donated to Comic Relief and, once again, the Carnival Committee’s coffers will benefit from all the proceeds of the raffle and refreshments.

The Vicar of Dibley is on at The Guildhall in Fore Street, Chard, nightly at 7.30pm on Wednesday-Friday, October 5-7, 2016.

Tickets are available from Thursday, September 15, 2016, from Barron’s in Holyrood Street, Chard, and cost just £8 in advance or £10 on the door.

Click on the Vicar of Dibley advert on the homepage of this website to book tickets online. 

PHOTO - TOP: Members of Chard Entertainment will be recreating the comedy magic of the TV cast of The Vicar of Dibley (pictured above) to the Guildhall in Chard from October 5-7, 2016.