A never-before performed radio script written for comedy legend Tony Hancock receives its belated premiere on Saturday 4 November 2017, at Wolverhampton’s Light House.
Written in 1952 by Black Country-born Goon Show scribe Larry Stephens, Vacant Lot would have been Hancock’s first starring role, with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Kenneth Connor all mooted to join the cast.
But despite the enthusiasm of the BBC and Hancock, the show never made it to air and lay buried in the BBC archives, forgotten … until now.
Following their success reviving The Goon Show, Birmingham Comedy Festival’s in-house theatre company return with The Lost Hancocks: Vacant Lot, featuring Janice Connolly (aka Mrs Barbara Nice), Linda Hargreaves (The Morganna Robinson Show, Rice’n’Peas’n’Caviar) and – as Tony Hancock – the actor and impressionist James Hurn, best known for his work on BBC2’s Dead Ringers, BBC Radio 4’s The Bid (providing the voices of Prince William and David Beckham), and also his own touring Hancock shows: Hancock's Half Hour, One Man, Many Voices, and Hancock and Co.
Vacant Lot was written in 1952 - at what stage was Hancock in his career at that time? Was he a big star?
Considering that the main medium for entertainment from the 1940s onwards was radio and theatre, I can quite safely say that Tony Hancock by 1952 was, what we would now call a celebrity but it wouldn't be until 1954 and the introduction of Hancock's Half Hour that we would see this rising talent become a big star.
Vacant Lot pre-dates Hancock’s Half Hour by two years; can you still hear the famous 'Hancock' character taking shape in the scripts?
Whilst reading The Vacant Lot I can hear and also picture in my mind’s eye Tony Hancock speaking these lines - which is a good indication to me that by 1952 Tony himself was aware of the winning formula that we all would eventually come to know, love and recognise as the unmistakable 'Hancock' character. This being said, I think it was the wonderful combination of superb writers such as Larry Stephens and later Ray Galton and Alan Simpson that helped Hancock himself achieve his pinnacle comedy persona.
Vacant Lot script was written by Larry Stephens - were you aware of him before this project?
As a performer myself, from an early age I was very attracted to shows that had very colourful characters, for example The Goon show. So, although I was aware of the work of Larry Stephens, my focus over the years was always on the delivery and the performance. It was only when I became involved in this particular project that Larry Stephens, the name and the person, became very apparent to me.
You also have your own solo Hancock shows - what is it about the person, the 'Hancock' character, you like?
I think he's one of those people that everyone can relate to and empathise with. He represents the common man and his struggles in the social and business arenas, and I believe that Hancock's struggles and successes are apparent in all human beings. As for the man himself, I am very attracted to his delivery, and comedic timing. He was a master of his craft, a true comedy genius.
You have a large repertoire of characters – royalty, De Niro, Corbyn, David Dimbleby, Rik Mayall, Arthur Lowe, Trump … Do you have any particular favourites?
At the moment, as it can change, I would have to say my favourites would be Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams. But in saying this I absolutely adore any character/ voice that has a wonderful tone, depth and resonance. I often find that some people of the past have a certain richness to their voice, such as James Mason and Basil Rathbone. It is this quality that I look for when searching for a new character to work on.
When you start to impersonate a person, like Hancock, do you immerse yourself in audio recordings and DVDs?
When I study any character I most definitely delve into my vast collection of movies and audio recordings, which I began accumulating from the age of 12. And in recent years the internet has become a treasure trove of old footage and interviews which I find most helpful.
What other projects do you have coming up after Vacant Lot?
I am continuing with my tour of Hancock's Half Hour and Hancock and Co, of which two of the scripts I have penned myself. I am currently in the process of writing further episodes of Hancock and Co, with the blessing of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, for future performances.
Saturday 4 November 2017
The Lost Hancocks: Vacant Lot
The Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton
Performances: 2pm and 7pm
Plus Q&A (3.30pm) and screening of Hancock’s last major film, The Punch and Judy Man (4.40pm)
A never-before performed radio script written for comedy legend Tony Hancock receives its belated premiere on Saturday 4 November 2017, at Wolverhampton’s Light House.
Written in 1952 by Black Country-born Goon Show scribe Larry Stephens, Vacant Lot would have been Hancock’s first starring role, with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Kenneth Connor all mooted to join the cast.
But despite the enthusiasm of the BBC and Hancock, the show never made it to air and lay buried in the BBC archives, forgotten … until now.
Following their success reviving The Goon Show, Birmingham Comedy Festival’s in-house theatre company return with The Lost Hancocks: Vacant Lot, featuring Janice Connolly (aka Mrs Barbara Nice), Linda Hargreaves (The Morganna Robinson Show, Rice’n’Peas’n’Caviar) and – as Tony Hancock – the actor and impressionist James Hurn, best known for his work on BBC2’s Dead Ringers, BBC Radio 4’s The Bid (providing the voices of Prince William and David Beckham), and also his own touring Hancock shows: Hancock's Half Hour, One Man, Many Voices, and Hancock and Co.
Vacant Lot was written in 1952 - at what stage was Hancock in his career at that time? Was he a big star?
Considering that the main medium for entertainment from the 1940s onwards was radio and theatre, I can quite safely say that Tony Hancock by 1952 was, what we would now call a celebrity but it wouldn't be until 1954 and the introduction of Hancock's Half Hour that we would see this rising talent become a big star.
Vacant Lot pre-dates Hancock’s Half Hour by two years; can you still hear the famous 'Hancock' character taking shape in the scripts?
Whilst reading The Vacant Lot I can hear and also picture in my mind’s eye Tony Hancock speaking these lines - which is a good indication to me that by 1952 Tony himself was aware of the winning formula that we all would eventually come to know, love and recognise as the unmistakable 'Hancock' character. This being said, I think it was the wonderful combination of superb writers such as Larry Stephens and later Ray Galton and Alan Simpson that helped Hancock himself achieve his pinnacle comedy persona.
Vacant Lot script was written by Larry Stephens - were you aware of him before this project?
As a performer myself, from an early age I was very attracted to shows that had very colourful characters, for example The Goon show. So, although I was aware of the work of Larry Stephens, my focus over the years was always on the delivery and the performance. It was only when I became involved in this particular project that Larry Stephens, the name and the person, became very apparent to me.
You also have your own solo Hancock shows - what is it about the person, the 'Hancock' character, you like?
I think he's one of those people that everyone can relate to and empathise with. He represents the common man and his struggles in the social and business arenas, and I believe that Hancock's struggles and successes are apparent in all human beings. As for the man himself, I am very attracted to his delivery, and comedic timing. He was a master of his craft, a true comedy genius.
You have a large repertoire of characters – royalty, De Niro, Corbyn, David Dimbleby, Rik Mayall, Arthur Lowe, Trump … Do you have any particular favourites?
At the moment, as it can change, I would have to say my favourites would be Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams. But in saying this I absolutely adore any character/ voice that has a wonderful tone, depth and resonance. I often find that some people of the past have a certain richness to their voice, such as James Mason and Basil Rathbone. It is this quality that I look for when searching for a new character to work on.
When you start to impersonate a person, like Hancock, do you immerse yourself in audio recordings and DVDs?
When I study any character I most definitely delve into my vast collection of movies and audio recordings, which I began accumulating from the age of 12. And in recent years the internet has become a treasure trove of old footage and interviews which I find most helpful.
What other projects do you have coming up after Vacant Lot?
I am continuing with my tour of Hancock's Half Hour and Hancock and Co, of which two of the scripts I have penned myself. I am currently in the process of writing further episodes of Hancock and Co, with the blessing of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, for future performances.
Saturday 4 November 2017
The Lost Hancocks: Vacant Lot
The Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton
Performances: 2pm and 7pm
Plus Q&A (3.30pm) and screening of Hancock’s last major film, The Punch and Judy Man (4.40pm)
www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/losthancocks.htm