No Sex Please, We're British!
by Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot

16 - 21 February

The long running popular West End comedy

About the Play

Peter and Frances Hunter,just married,young,attractive,the former with a good job in a bank, (sub-branch manager) with a nice flat above it Set in the early 1970's they could reasonably expect to look forward to a calm peaceful happy start to their life together. Owing to an unfortunate mistake by Frances however they find themselves inundated with pornographic material from the 'Scandinavia Import Company'' first with postcards, then films and finally illustrated volumes. Senior bank officials, Peter's elegant and snobbish mother, and above all the fussy but respectable chief cashier at Peter's bank, all become inextricably entangled in the rather hectic but hilarious events that follow brought to a head by the arrival of two pretty girls from the company to provide their special decidedly eccentric services.

In the cast at Erith Playhouse are Jan Pearce, John Hyde, Samantha Langford, Mark Woodham, Rodger Hodge, Eric Mackenzie, Emma Stewart, Emma Holland, and making his debut at the Playhouse, Matt Arnold. Matt has already appeared in roles at The Edward Alderton and the Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre but this is a first for him at Erith Playhouse.

History of The Play

First opened at the Stand Theatre and ran there for 11 years before transferring to The Garrick for 4 years and then to the Duchess for a further record breaking run. I think it finished there in the early 1990's. It was billed as the longest running comedy in the world.

When it opened in the West End Michael Crawford played one of the lead roles. The play received a rave from serious 'Sunday Times' critic Harold Hobson, who singled out young Michael Crawford for special mention. Others who have played leading parts in this play include, Derek Fowlds, Hugh Lloyd, Peter Graves and many others. While at the Duchess it was billed as having played over 6,700 performances and had become as big a tourist attraction as the Tower of London & Buckingham Palace !!
It was also made into a successful comedy film starring Ronnie Corbett and the late Arthur Lowe.

I suppose the reason we have not done it before was because of it's continuing run in the West End and it's subsequent lengthy regional tours.

Note: There is nothing offensive in this show - it is all implied - a bit like the carry-on films. And therefore there are no age restrictions.