Acorn Antiques The Musical returns - for one night only
- Alan Hulme
- May 6
- 2 min read
Based on the iconic long-running sketch series from Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre is mounting a production of Acorn Antiques The Musical – just for one evening (November 2), and at the city's Opera House rather than its own, relatively small theatre.
The show will be a special fund-raising concert directed by Hope Mill’s co-founders, Joseph Houston and William Whelton. A star cast has yet to be announced.
Bury-born comic genius Victoria Wood based Acorn Antiques on the long-running TV serial Crossroads, and radio soap Waggoners Walk, taking swipes at soaps with their wobbly sets, overacting, cheesy dialogue and wildly improbable plots.
Twenty years ago she created the stage musical version, featuring several key members of the original TV cast including Julie Walters, Celia Imrie and Duncan Preston - with Wood and Julie Walters alternating the role of Mrs Overall.
The full-scale production earned several Olivier award nominations, including best new musical, and won the best supporting actress in a musical award for Celia Imrie.
Joseph Houston, said: “In celebration of our 10th anniversary, and after the success of our previous concert stagings of Gypsy and NINE, we are thrilled to be bringing Acorn Antiques back.
"The show did a tour of the UK in a revised version in 2007, directed by Victoria Wood; that's the version we are bringing back."
Nigel Lilley, from the Victoria Wood Foundation and this revival's musical director and supervisor, said: “Working with Victoria on the tour of Acorn Antiques remains the giggliest rehearsal period I can remember. Vic was in her element - often working through the night to produce solid gold rewrites, gently giving us daily masterclasses in comic timing and generally just delighting in those wonderful characters she had created.
"I think Vic would be thrilled we are dusting off our Marigolds and bringing the show back to Manchesterford, where it rightfully belongs!”
More info and tickets here