19/11/2025
The first review is in and we couldn't be more thrilled.
There are however JUST 9 TICKETS LEFT for 'Allo! 'Allo! at Grayshott Village Hall so if you don't want to miss out on this 'evening of puntastic, naughty, nostalgic fun.' you will need to be quick and book your tickets today: https://grayshottstagers.littleboxoffice.com/browse
OUR REVIEW IS IN!!! 'Laughter, Liberated' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 𝐚𝐭 Grayshott Village Hall.
In an era where theatre audiences increasingly gravitate toward familiar stories, British sitcoms of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s have proven irresistible source material. While 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘺 and 𝘍𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 have never truly left the national consciousness, the iconic '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 now feels like a rediscovered gem—fondly remembered for its humour even if some of the finer details have faded with time. With that mixture of nostalgia and curiosity, we arrived at last night’s preview performance from the Grayshott Stagers full of anticipation. And we were certainly not disappointed.
Under the confident direction of Buff Cooper '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 delivered exactly what fans of the beloved TV series hoped for: cheeky humour, outrageous disguises and all the nostalgic charm of occupied France via Café René; complete with secret sausages, hidden airmen and more Hitlers than one café should ever reasonably contain.
At the centre of the chaos is Joe White, outstanding as René Artois. He’s wonderfully believable as he juggles treacherous schemes, a jealous wife, two flirtatious waitresses and the small inconvenience of the Gestapo. His effortless ability to draw in the audience anchors the entire production.
Suzie Gow makes for a superb Edith, nailing those intentionally off-key vocal flourishes with comic precision. Meanwhile Caroline Thompson (Yvette) and Clemency Bray (Mimi) bring a playful, flirtatious energy that feels lifted straight from the original series. The dynamic between the four is a joy, and Café René feels properly alive because of it.
The wider ensemble is equally strong. Brezetta Thonger is perfectly cast as Private Helga Geerhart, an ideal foil to David Gow’s excellently stiff and sinister Herr Flick, whose unexpected tango was a highlight. Antony Mee is hilarious and subtly touching as Lieutenant Gruber, especially during René’s increasingly strained attempts to explain away that troublesome cockatoo (“cock or two”) radio.
Speaking of which: Laura Musco shines as Michelle of the Resistance, forever appearing with a new plan, a new disguise or a new disaster. Monsieur Leclerc’s parrot-seller routine earns big laughs, especially as the infamous wireless chirps out messages at exactly the wrong moments.
Paul Allum (Colonel von Strohm) and David Impiazzi (Bertorelli) make a hugely entertaining double-act, while Richard Ashton’s Officer Crabtree—mangling the English language beyond recognition—had the audience smiling every time he strode onstage with another “good moaning”.
The set captures the cosy clutter of a provincial French café, with a cleverly designed second-floor bedroom overlooking the action. It’s worth noting that two of the forthcoming performances use café-style seating, adding an extra layer of immersion. Scene changes are given extra charm by a delightful four-piece live band (clarinet, two guitars and accordion), adding warmth and authenticity throughout.
By the time the show reaches its absurd conclusion, (details of which we daren’t spoil!), the audience was thoroughly swept up in the silliness. This production is affectionate, funny and joyfully reminiscent of the TV classic—an evening of pun-tastic, naughty, nostalgic fun.
'𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 '𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜 runs from Wednesday 19th November to Saturday 22nd November at Grayshott Village Hall. Last remaining tickets available here: https://grayshottstagers.littleboxoffice.com/
(From preview night performance: 18th November 2025)
