Salad Days

OH LOOK AT ME, I'M DANCING!

Written by Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds in 1954, Salad Days became the UK's longest running show at the time, with over 2,288 performances. Tete a Tete, a small-scale opera company, immaculately revives this musical with poise and flair. From the melodic charm of its memorable tunes to its light-hearted whimsy, the production is pure flight of fancy and what was once a piece of frivolous escapism has now acquired the appeal of taking the audience back to a different time period, that being an age of innocence and peace time days in the wake of World War II.

Director Bill Bankes-Jones emphasises this flight back in time to great effect by creating a 50's England only seen in the pages of Tatler; impeccable accents, dawdling socialites and endearing musical numbers add a dreamlike quality to this tale of yesteryear. The production's songs are expertly sung by a versatile and talented cast that captivates with direct audience engagement, making everybody feel part of the show.

WHAT IS SALAD DAYS ABOUT?

Salad Days follows Jane and Timothy, recent graduates from Oxford who've no prospects other than the ones impressed upon them by their parents. Defiantly, they marry, much to the chagrin of their families, and by chance they stumble across a magical piano that makes people sing and dance. However, the mischievous piano also begins causing trouble and the couple ends up being chased by the powers that be. Hilarious hi-jinks and capers ensue in this delightfully frothy musical.