The hallowed radio show The Archers is celebrating 75 glorious years by stepping out of the studio and onto the stage. The Guardian's food writer and Ambridge obsessive Felicity Cloake met the cast to find out more about the nationwide theatre tour.
A Dream Come True
Susie Riddell, who plays Tracy Horrobin, confessed her excitement: "It's like a dream come true for me too! I never thought I'd see the day that I was interviewed by the Guardian. I've seen it in the Bull!" The Bull, a half-timbered pub on the village green, is known for offering ale, artisanal food, and surprisingly, copies of the Guardian. Riddell joked that Helen might have left it behind, referencing Helen's mother Pat, who famously made her husband Tony switch his allegiance from the Mirror in an early 80s storyline.
When asked about the secret of the show's enduring success, Sunny Ormonde, who plays Lilian Bellamy, said: "It's the characters. The Archers is very, very much character-led. And I think the characters are brilliant." Radio encourages a feeling of ownership, as listeners use their imagination more than with television. Tim Bentinck, who has played David Archer since 1982, recalled the outrage when David's wife Ruth embarked on an affair with Sam the cowman. "A lot of listeners said that's completely out of character, which was very valid. But people do behave out of character and I like that," he said.
The Challenges of Live Performance
The cast is excited about performing a specially written episode set at Ambridge's annual flower and produce show in front of a live audience. "All I've got to do is walk on stage, say 'Hello darling', do the laugh, and that'll be it! I think it could get quite hysterical!" Ormonde said. Bentinck wondered about costumes: "What are we going to look like? Are we going to try to look cool? Or are we going to do Barbours and tweeds and all that?"
Riddell admitted to some concerns about her facial expressions while acting: "I'm an absolute gurner! I'm slightly worried about people going, 'What is she doing with her face?' But I'm just going to have to gurn, otherwise Tracy's voice isn't going to come out right!" She explained that radio acting requires as much imagination as listening, comparing it to a "weird sort of dance" with sound effects artist Vanessa Nuttall.
Character Ownership and Fan Knowledge
Bentinck recounted a story about sitting next to a woman at a dinner party who had no idea who he was and started "sounding forth about The Archers." He concluded: "If there are 5 million listeners, then there are 5 million David Archers – and not one of them looks like me!" Riddell said even she pictures Tracy differently from her own appearance. The cast is prepared for a nightly Q&A, knowing that older listeners or younger obsessives might know more about Ambridge than they do. When asked about Tracy's silent brother Stewart, Riddell pleaded ignorance and decided to check with Ryan Kelly, who plays Jazzer, because "his Archers knowledge is amazing."
Bentinck bristled slightly when asked why David is so grumpy, but the actors are touchingly fond of their alter egos. Ormonde "adores Lily Billy as I call her," and Bentinck refused to consider who else he'd like to be married to if not Ruth, despite a solemn promise that his wife would never know. After all, if there's one thing everyone can agree on, it's that Ruth is not one of the show's Guardian readers.
The Archers: Live at 75 tour runs across the UK from 7 June to 26 November.
