Review: Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening at Nottingham Theatre Royal

As a journalist sadly old enough to remember the original series, Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening is a real joy to watch.

Thirty years after the ground-breaking comedy was aired on television, the old team are back together – but this time on stage.

But that is pretty much the only difference.

There is the same sharp wit of the scripts and cutting topical jokes – once again written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin – and much of the original cast.

Although sadly missing the late Haydn Gwynne (Alex) and David Swift (Henry) the stage show stars Jeff Rawle (George) Victoria Wicks (Sally Smedley) Stephen Tompkinson (Damien) Neil Pearson (Dave) Susannah Doyle (Joy) Ingrid Lacey (Helen) and Robert Duncan (Gus).

They are joined by Julia Hills as investigative reporter Mairhead and Kerena Japal as weather girl-presenter Rita.

While Dave has somewhat mellowed – giving up booze, girls and gambling – and Damien is now in a wheelchair, none of the news team have changed – older but certainly not wiser.

Globelink News is, of course, long gone. Instead, the team have been brought together by Gus, under a mystery consortium, to launch Truth News.

As you would expect from Drop The Dead Donkey nothing goes to plan – but there is plenty of comedy along the way.

Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening is at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until Saturday.

For fans of the original series it is a beloved blast from the past, for a new audience it shows what they have been missing.