The Lavender Connection

Source: Herald & Post (North East England Local Newspaper)
Date: January 2002

KEITH NEWTON LOOKS AT THE SEASON AHEAD AT THE CIVIC THEATRE.

Ian Lavender and The Lavender Hill Mob, and a play by Ian's old Dad's Army mate Arnold Ridley will make it a Spring season of curious connections at Darlington Civic Theatre.

Ian who has just been seen on television in Eastenders plus the repeats of Dad's Army, will be in The Ghost Train from February 5 - 9. He'll be joined in the cast by Henry McGee and Judy Cornwell.

The Ghost Train is brought to the Civic by Ian Dickens who has being responsible for some excellent shows there in recent years.

Few people realise that Arnold Ridley was a playwright. Audiences tend to know him from Dad's Army where he played the dithery Private Godfrey. Ian Lavender of course was young Private Pike.

The play based on the old Ealing film comedy, The Lavender Hill Mob, will be at the civic from March 19 - 23. It will star Clive Francis and Victor Spinetti.

Famous Faces On Stage

Source: Stroud News & Journal
Date: January 9th 2002

Dad's Army favourite Ian Lavender, known to million's as Private Pike, is set to star in a classic play written by another of the shows popular characters.

The Ghost Train, penned by Arnold Ridley (Private Godfrey) is about to pull into Cheltenham for the new year, to take audiences on a sensationally spine tingling journey.

First performed in 1925, The Ghost Train is a classic drama which still has audiences on the edge of their seats. It's formula is so successful, that it has been filmed no less than three times.

An all-star cast will be appearing in this new staging of this spine-tingling thriller, which comes from the pen of Arnold Ridley - who was well loved by millions as Private Godfrey in the classic, Dad's Army.

And there is one more than one connection between this show and Dad's Army. Ian Lavender, who starred alongside Arnold Ridley as the cosseted Private Pike in the hit TV Series will star in the production.

Ian will be joined on stage by Judy Cornwell, Daisy in TV's Keeping Up Appearances and Mrs Claus in Santa Claus the Movie with Dudley Moore. They will star alongside Henry McGee, whose 20-year association with The Benny Hill Show made him a household name. Christopher Strauli, from the TV comedies Only When I Laugh and Full House will also be starring.

Situated in a small Cornish wayside station, The Ghost Train follows the events which unfold when a foolish young man accidentally strands six passengers there. Ghostly and ghastly goings on soon begin to unfold, with unexpected consequences.

The Ghost Train pulls in to The Everyman on Monday, January 28 and departs on Saturday, February 2. Tickets are available from the Everyman box office.