The Vicar of Dibley - The Second Coming

I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Bacup Royal Court Theatre watching The Vicar of Dibley – The Second Coming. Bacup RCTG brought the village of Dibley to life with real affection and a good dose of well-timed chaos. The play cleverly stitched together two classic episodes from the original series: the launch of Radio Dibley and the “Brain of Dibley” quiz between Alice and David, followed by the Christmas nativity, complete with miscast roles, muddled lines, and Alice giving birth mid-performance. It was silly, nostalgic, and very funny.

Stephen Woods directed with a clear eye for pace and character, supported by Rachael O’Hara as assistant director. The staging worked well, with Geraldine’s lounge set to stage left, complete with kitchen and her trademark décor (Mel Gibson and Jesus side by side), and the parish council table on stage right. The complete set doubled as a nativity space later in Act two. The Radio Dibley team were perched on a raised platform at the back, adding a nice layer of visual interest. The whole thing moved along briskly, with snappy dialogue and plenty of comic beats landing exactly right.

Gill Richardson was excellent as Geraldine Granger. She had the voice, the mannerisms, and that cheeky sparkle that made the character so beloved. Her timing was spot-on, and she handled both the comedy and the more heartfelt moments with ease. It was a confident, warm performance that anchored the show beautifully.

Cerys Pearson, one of BRCT’s youth actors, gave a lovely turn as Alice Horton (née Tinker). She caught Alice’s wide-eyed daftness completely, the vacant stares and surreal logic were very funny, and she never overplayed it. Her timing in the quiz scenes was great, and she brought a real sweetness to the role. Maxwell Hopkinson, also a BRCT youth actor, was a joy as Hugo Horton. He bounced around like an overenthusiastic puppy, full of energy and comic charm. His fainting moment was a highlight, perfectly timed and very funny.

Ian Eastwood gave a dry and delightfully exasperated performance as David Horton, full of clipped comebacks and incredulous reactions. He captured David’s pompous frustration well, especially during the quiz scenes, and his physical comedy added to the laughs.

Niel Gioia was a triumph as Jim Trott. He did not overplay the stutter, which made it all the funnier, and his comic timing was excellent. He had a lovely physicality, awkward, expressive, and always just a bit off kilter. His appearance with a TV glued to his hand was brilliantly absurd, and his towel-clad turn as one of the Three Wise Men was a brave and hilarious moment. Neil brought real depth to Jim, making him more than just a catchphrase, funny, inventive, and very well judged.

Janice Purslow gave a charming performance as Leticia Cropley, knitting away and dropping in bizarre comments with perfect timing. Her presence added texture to every scene, and she made nonsense feel oddly necessary. Denis Michoux was quietly brilliant as Frank Pickle. His slow movements and careful pen placement were spot-on, and his radio confession was both funny and surprisingly moving. He walked the line between absurdity and sincerity with real skill.

John Parry gave a jolly funny performance as Owen Newitt, the unhygienic farmer with no filter. His delivery was gleefully inappropriate, and he knew exactly how far to push it without going too far. He made the audience squirm and laugh in equal measure.

The technical team did a fantastic job. Stage Manager Paul Ashworth and his crew kept things running smoothly. Lighting by Andy Holden and Kobi Mottley helped set the mood, warm and cosy for Geraldine’s lounge, brighter and more formal for council scenes, with some nice effects throughout. Sound by Rob Hames and Tyler Holden was clear and well-balanced, with effects landing right on cue and supporting the comedy without ever getting in the way.

Wardrobe by Regina Arkwright and Janice Purslow was spot-on. Geraldine’s cardigans, Alice’s frumpy outfits, and the nativity costumes were all thoughtfully chosen. Niel Gioia’s appearance in just towels as one of the Three Wise Men was a comic highlight, and Frank’s sparkling pink jacket after his radio confession earned a cheer from the audience. Each costume helped define the character and added to the overall fun.

Overall, it was a warm, funny, and well-crafted production that celebrated the quirks of Dibley with affection and theatrical flair. Huge thanks to Bacup Royal Court Theatre Group for a thoroughly entertaining evening, I look forward to many more shows from them in the future.

 

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