Our production of The Vicar of Dibley sold out in record time, and we can’t wait for audiences to enjoy this brilliant stage adaptation of one of the UK’s best-loved sitcoms. The set looks fantastic, and once you’re in our lovely initimate auditorium, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in on the Parish Council meetings, or so close to Geraldine and Alice’s latest heart-to-heart that you’ll expect them to reach out and share their chocolate with you (unlikely!).

Our lovely company has been working hard over the last few weeks to bring the sleepy town of Dibley to life. Before opening night, a few of the team shared their thoughts on Dibley and what other TV shows they’d love to be a part of!

Suhayla Egan plays Geraldine Granger. Most recently you’d have seen her playing an Angel in our Christmas play, The Flint Street Nativity.

John Adcock plays Jim Trott and Naomi Campbell is Alice Tinker. They’re both newcomers to the EAT and we’re delighted to welcome them to the theatre and to the Dibley company.

Talking about their characters and whether they share any character traits:

Suhayla: Yes, I suppose I am quite forthright. When my sons saw the poster of Geraldine scoffing chocolate they remarked “She’s just like you!”

Naomi: Alice Tinker is the scatterbrained and lovable verger of St Mary’s Church. She’s best known for being a bit slow on the uptake, especially when it comes to the Vicar’s jokes, which she usually only understands long after the punchline. With her wide-eyed innocence and strange obsessions, like her love for the Teletubbies, she is the heart of the village, even if she is completely dim-witted. Despite her confused logic, she is Geraldine’s most loyal friend and eventually finds her perfect match in the equally naive Hugo Horton.

I definitely don’t have a love of the teletubbies 🙂 but I like to think that I am a loyal friend with slight innocence who is only occasionally scatterbrained!

John: Jim is a member of the Dibley Parish Council and is most notable for his repetition of the word “no” whenever questioned or replying to a remark until he finally says his truthful answer which is usually “yes”, which confuses the entire Parish council.

I think the only likeness I have to Jim is probably his age, although some may disagree on some of Jim’s other characteristics!!!

What about other favourite sitcoms and characters?

John: There have been so many excellent sitcoms from the sixties to the noughties! One of my all-time favourites was The Likely Lads (shows my age), but others would have to include Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, Porridge, Fawlty Towers, Dads Army and so on!!!

If I could play any other character in a sitcom it would have to be one of the Likely Lads when I was younger or, indeed, any one of the leading characters in Only Fools and Horses!

Suhayla: I used to love The Brittas Empire as a kid. I’ve no idea why! Desmond’s was a family favourite. Also I love Him and Her which is a completely different style.  As for a character to play? I’d love to do a bit of ‘Pamela’ from Gavin and Stacey.

Naomi: I like quite a modern sitcom with preferences being Friends (1994) and the more recent Superstore (2015), not forgetting My Family (2000). I do however also enjoy the occasional Just Good Friends (1983) episode.

Favourite character to play? Is it bad to say Alice in The Vicar of Dibley 🙂

And finally, what can our lucky ticket holders look forward to when they come to see the show?

John: It will be an amazing recreation of some of the funniest moments from the TV series with fantastic characterisations of the original cast in an intimate theatre.

Suhayla: It’s very true to the show, it will hopefully lift your spirits after all this rain and add a bit of sunshine into your day! 

Naomi: You’re in for a brilliant night of comedy that celebrates the very best of British eccentricity. We’ve brought the village of Dibley to life by weaving together all the classic scenes you know and love. It is a feel-good theatrical experience that perfectly balances nostalgic charm with a lively, contemporary spirit. We look forward to seeing you all there!

The Vicar of Dibley runs from Saturday 28^th March until Saturday 4^th April.