Richard Whitmore

With Bernie Winters and The Crazy Gang at Worthing during the U.K. tour of the musical Underneath the Arches in1989.  Photo: Worthing Herald

When Richard left the BBC in 1988 one of his aims was to fulfill a long-held ambition to work in the professional theatre. The following year (1989) he secured a leading role, co-starring with Bernie Winters to play Chesney Allen in a national tour of Underneath the Arches, the musical tribute to the 'Crazy Gang' comedians Flanagan and Allen.  He has also enjoyed several Christmas pantomime seasons, playing Baron Hardup in Cinderella (once opposite Barbara Windsor) and Alderman Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington.  

He also starred in the dual roles of Lord Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst in the first U.K.stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This was not the West End production which most people assume to be first  - but the one at The Gordon Craig Theatre at Stevenage in 1992. When director Matthew Townshend, running a Youth theatre project, amazed everyone by obtaining special permission from the Ian Fleming estate to present just five stage performances based on the original film script.  Richard recalls: "At that time, West End producers had been trying for years to secure the stage rights of the show but without luck. They couldn't believe it when a provincial theatre was given permission. Many of them came to see it and were impressed. The theatre really pulled out all the stops on the production which, despite its short run, was seen by more than 2000 people. Many were astonished when the technical crew produced two life-size cars - one that drove across the stage and another that could be flown on wires. 

In 1996 Richard played the dual roles of Mr Darling and Captain Hook in the musical Peter Pan; appearing for the first time opposite his wife Wendy who played Mrs. Darling. More recently he has appeared as the narrator in David Graham's touring production of The Wonderful West End.

A Month of Sundays

In 1995 Richard was cast as John Cooper, the truculent resident of an old people's home in Bob Larby's moving drama 'A Month of Sundays. ' The part required him to be on stage throughout the entire play.

As well as his professional performances, Richard is still closely involved with The Bancroft Players, the amateur dramatic society that he first joined when he left school in 1951. In 1977, as the society's President, he set in motion a project that led six years later to the opening of Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre - a 170-seat purpose-built venue funded entirely by the local community. On 8^th July 1983, when the 'Queen Mum' came to give her name to the building Richard had the honour of showing the royal visitor round and introducing her to the many people who contributed to the success of his fund-raising campaign. Within a year, more than £110,000 was donated by the public. A further £50,000 was raised by the Society itself, from production profits and the sale of its old headquarters - a wooden church hall that had been the Players 'little theatre' and home since the 1950s.

The crowds look on as The Queen Mother bids farewell at the end of her visit to Hitchin to open The Queen Mother Theatre in 1983.

If you would like to know more about the Bancroft Players and the theatre you will find an extensive website on: www.qmt.org.uk

The Theatre entrance as it is today.