THE VICAR OF DIBLEY: Christmas - A Second Coming

October 2026

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Review from NODA:

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This is such a witty script and Director Jane Miles had obviously worked hard with her actors to ensure every joke landed and the dialogue whipped along. It was well cast and all of the performers understood their characters meaning that the audience relaxed and enjoyed the evening.

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We arrived at the theatre to a thrust stage already set with two distinct locations, the vicar’s home and the parish meeting room.

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Helga Dove was a mischievous Geraldine, her affection and exasperation with Alice was great and we felt her enthusiasm for Radio Dibley and the nativity. Jess Ricketts was excellent as the intellectually challenged Alice. She revelled in the physical silliness, had a lovely naivety but delivered the butter dialogue with real sincerity. Hugo Horton was played by Dan Ricketts and this part really suited him. His physical comedy was very funny, even down to walking onstage. His first entrance in the dark with the torch was a really comic moment.

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Andrew Johnson as David Horton added exasperation and gravitas to the play until his panto baddy moment as Herod in act two, complete with fabulous make up. Earthy Owen Newitt was played by Kristian Burnett, he maintained his accent and spoke his lines with a lovely rhythm.

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The no no nos of Jim Trott came from Barry Bowen. He came into his own in act two as a shepherd/king, exposing so much of his comedy to a very close audience. Dave Wright smiled his way through and gave us a precise and upright Frank Pickle. Lynn Guyton was a delightfully dotty but deadly Letitia Cropley.

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The use of ensemble players to change the props, fill the gaps in the nativity cast and enable the local vet to deliver Alice’s baby worked very well.

There were lots of little touches that showed us how much thought had gone in to this production. I loved Mrs C’s array of unusually decorated hats and shawls, the chocolate related mugs, Alice’s tiara and tartan wellies, the pegs on Jim’s dodgy costume, Owen’s ability to wear wellies for every occasion and Geraldine’s Christmas waistcoat.

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The lighting made sure that the audience knew which of the two locations we should focus on and the dramatic dum dum dum moment made us all laugh. The rumble of the thunder was felt under our feet and I liked the fanfare and jingle for Radio Dibley.

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There were a couple of times when some of the cast blocked others so some dialogue was lost for my section of the audience but I know that is difficult to avoid on a thrust stage.

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This was a cast who were confident and comfortable with each other and they obviously enjoyed bringing this play to an audience. Thank you to Jane and the cast members I chatted with at the end of the evening. Bravo Harlow Theatre Company, another successful performance.