All Saints Dramatic Society 
Bournemouth Life Centre, Moordown, Bournemouth
KD Johnson
31 July 2025
There seem to be a few of these stage shows derived from classic sitcoms around – notably including one from Dad’s Army and another from ‘Allo ‘Allo. They are very popular on the amateur circuit – being familiar to both actors and audience from their respective television shows. This is the first time I have seen this one.
Hi-De-Hi! was created by the comedy writing team of Jimmy Perry and David Croft, creators of Dad’s Army, but this stage show was written by Paul Carpenter and Ian Gower using the ready-made setting and characters from the original series, which ran from 1981 to 1988.
Director, Georgie Drake, has cast the show well: Dean Smith plays a convincing part as the repressed former academic, Jeffrey, Mary Almeida shines as Gladys (maintaining a good Welsh accent) and Sue Josey plays a great part as the chalet maid and wannabee Yellowcoat, Peggy, complete with Lancashire accent. The exuberant rôle of the ne’er-do-well entertainment host, Ted, falls to Tom Maslen, aided and abetted by Chris Meineck, as Spike, and a supporting cast of Yellowcoats and sundry others.
Innovative use is made by set-designer, Suzzi Dellow, of a stage split between Jeffrey’s Office on the left, while the right-side changes from the staffroom to the Hawaiian Ballroom and the insides of two adjacent chalets – using three screens. Unfortunately, although the set behind the screens changes unobtrusively, the manipulation of the three gold-glittering screens is laborious and clumsy, slowing the pace considerably.
There are a few other opening night glitches which can hopefully be polished up by tomorrow. It is a shame that the background projection seems to be from a webpage, complete with bookmark toolbar across the top – this would be better as a slideshow or presentation without titles, menus and page footers. Jeffrey is in darkness when he comes downstage in his office – so that spot needs adjusting.
Tonight was my first visit to the Life Centre, and I was surprised to find such an imposing venue nestling among the shops in Moordown. I am not sure whether the echoey acoustics are endemic to the venue or are to do with the plethora of boundary microphones, hanging above the set or standing in footlight positions at the front. Some of the dialogue, particularly in Act I, is distorted and difficult to follow but it picks up in Act II, where much use is made, in character, of hand-held microphones.
The show relies on the audience being familiar with the gags from the television show and participating, pantomime style, with some of the responses – there is even a sing‑along song to finish with. It is a fun show to watch and to participate in as the “campers”, but it can drag a bit when we have to wait for scene changes or for cast members to come on stage.
The show runs until Saturday 2 August at 7:30pm.
