Britain's What's On Event Guide
(Very) Old Radio: The First Firsts of British Broadcasting
A new ‘stand-up history’ show on British broadcasting’s origin story, written and performed by Paul Kerensa
This one-man show informs, educates but above all entertains about British broadcasting’s birth. Enjoy tales, clips and re-enactments of Auntie Beeb’s earliest landmark moments: the first BBC broadcast, the first children’s, drama, sports commentary and so much more – researched, written and performed by British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out) + comedian Paul Kerensa.
Part 1, 1919-22: The build-up to the BBC… Paul plays two feuding real-life pioneers: the wild first regular broadcaster Peter Eckersley and the frustrated first voice of the BBC Arthur Burrows, both with different ideas of what radio could be. This half is based on Paul’s 2022 tour The First Broadcast: The Battle for the Beeb in 1922, and includes Nellie Melba, drunken improvised opera, and the BBC’s launch night.
Part 2, 1922-23: After an interval, Paul (as himself) guides us through the Beeb’s first year: hear the BBC’s first song and first comedian, relive the influential first outside broadcast and the bawdy launch of Savoy Hill. After a Q&A, Paul’s new novel Auntie and Uncles: The Bizarre Birth of the BBC can be available.
This one-man show informs, educates but above all entertains about British broadcasting’s birth. Enjoy tales, clips and re-enactments of Auntie Beeb’s earliest landmark moments: the first BBC broadcast, the first children’s, drama, sports commentary and so much more – researched, written and performed by British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out) + comedian Paul Kerensa.
Part 1, 1919-22: The build-up to the BBC… Paul plays two feuding real-life pioneers: the wild first regular broadcaster Peter Eckersley and the frustrated first voice of the BBC Arthur Burrows, both with different ideas of what radio could be. This half is based on Paul’s 2022 tour The First Broadcast: The Battle for the Beeb in 1922, and includes Nellie Melba, drunken improvised opera, and the BBC’s launch night.
Part 2, 1922-23: After an interval, Paul (as himself) guides us through the Beeb’s first year: hear the BBC’s first song and first comedian, relive the influential first outside broadcast and the bawdy launch of Savoy Hill. After a Q&A, Paul’s new novel Auntie and Uncles: The Bizarre Birth of the BBC can be available.
Sunday 24 Sep 2023
Theatre at the Tabard
2 Bath Road London W4 1LW
Sunday 24th September 3pmTICKETS: £18/£15 concessions
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Theatre at the Tabard
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