Coventry Theatre - opened 31st October 1955

The Programme

PART ONE

1. OVERTURE " No Business Like Show Business" (Arranged by Ernest Pullon).

2. BIRTHDAY CARNIVAL (Lyrics by Jimmy Grafton). (Music by Jack Jordan).

Harlequin   ...   RONNIE BOYER

Columbines   ...   STEPHANIE DANE, BARBARA SUTTON

Pierrots   ...   THE GEORGE MITCHELL SINGERS

A Jester   ...   JOHN VYVYAN

King Carnival  ...   HARRY SECOMBE

The Twenty Dancing Stars.

3. HARRY SECOMBE By permission of PETER SELLERS and SPIKE MILLIGAN.

4. LES MATHURINS Comedy Acrobats.

5. Mrs. SHUFFLEWICK The first lady of Television.

6. THE CELEBRATED HYPNOTIST - ABOU BEN POORLI (Under the personal management of F. Nossbaum Twill.) Assisted by members of the audience.

7. CHARLIE CAIROLI with PAUL 

8. SPIKE MILLIGAN The Performing Man.

9. "MAMBO" A South American Fiesta (Arranged Boyer and Ravel).

The Dancers   ...   BOYER and RAVEL

Goonita   ...   HARRY SECOMBE

Admirer   ...   JOHN VYVYAN

Musicians   ...   Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan

The George Mitchell Singers and The Twenty Dancing Stars.

INTERVAL (15 Minutes)

PART TWO

10. "WE'D LOVE TO DANCE" (Lyrics by Jimmy Grafton). (Music by Jack Jordan).

THE GEORGE MITCHELL SINGERS and THE TWENTY DANCING STARS.

11. THE LONG ITCHINGTON STICK DANCERS (Choreography by Eric Sykes).

Performed by HARRY SECOMBE, PETER SELLERS, SPIKE MILLIGAN

12. THE SIX FLYING DE PAULS Energetic young ladies from Australia

13. PETER SELLERS And his all-Electric Epidiascope with the Giant Panoromantic Screen.

14. RONNIE BOYER and JEANNE RAVEL Televisions Glamorous Dancing Stars.

15. "LES TROIS CHARLIES" (Spike Milligan)

HARRY SECOMBE.   SPIKE MILLIGAN.   PETER SELLERS.

16. THE TANNER SISTERS The Singing Sisters of T.V., Radio and Records.

17. CHARLIE CAIROLI and COMPANY In trouble again.

Ballerina   ...   PENNY LOCK

Violinist   ...   Paul

Workman   ...   CHARLIE CAIROLI

18. HARRY SECOMBE In a scene from Puccini's Opera "La Tosca." (Introduced by Ronnie Boyer).

19. FINALE. "THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT" (Words and Music by Howard Dietz and Arthur Scwartz.) (Additional Lyrics by Jimmy Grafton.)

THE ENTIRE COMPANY       

Starred:

PETER SELLERS

SPIKE MILLIGAN

HARRY SECOMBE

CHARLIE CAIROLI & PAUL

MRS SHUFFLEWICK

THE TANNER SISTERS

LES MATHURINS

BOYER & RAVEL

SIX FLYING DE PAULS

THE GEORGE MITCHELL SINGERS

The Theatre in 2001

The Theatre in 2002

200?

Locals were asked about their memories of the theatre and the shows seen there. Janet remembers The Goons, especially the sketch where they dressed up as morris dancers and performed the Long Itchington Stick Dance.

Later, Harry Secombe appeared dressed as a yokel and everyone roared with laughter, only to be embarrassed when it turned out to be one of his serious moments, singing an operatic aria.