Theatre - Music Hall and Auction Evening

Traditional Music Hall entertainment recently found itself undergoing something of a revival after it burst onto our TV screens in the form of the BBC’s controversial adaptation of Sarah Water’s racy historical novel, Tipping the Velvet, five years ago. Since then a surge in vaudeville, burlesque and variety acts have tapped into a nostalgic yearning for good old-fashioned entertainment. Lewes Little Theatre are following suit tonight, by playing host to a full-scale Music-Hall revival evening and auction of promises to raise money to expand performance space on the theatrical site. The songs of Marie Lloyd and Vesta Tilley will be brought to life by a cast of Lewes Little Theatre regulars, under the direction of Dudley Ward.

“It will have a traditional Edwardian flavour”, Ward tells me over the phone. “There will be a Master of Ceremonies, audience participation, monologues, and songs”. Any examples of the acts? I ask. “There is a Stanley Holloway monologue about football which is very funny”, says Ward, “and a magician. He claims that he used to cut people in half, but he’s past his best now and no assistant will have him, so he cuts bits of himself off instead!” The second half of the evening is an auction of promises. Organiser, Dick Passmore tells me some of the wares up for grabs - “A holiday in Italy, dinner for four and a lift to Gatwick.” The emphasis is on raising money but also having fun. After all - a little of what you fancy does you good. ER