There can’t be many amateur dramatic and light opera societies around that haven’t performed Salad Days at one time or another. If there are any that haven’t, they’ve certainly considered it. Perhaps it might – only might! – be going out of fashion now.
It’s so very, very English, so very middle-class, so very 1950s and, in its altogether jolly and wholesome way, so very strange. Maybe it looks dated to some, but sooner or later some ambitious am-dram society somewhere will update it with modern themes, ensure that the cast is more diverse and maybe reverse some of the gender roles. It’s probably already happened somewhere.
Read next: How riots and riches built Bristol's most prestigious address It was all very different 70 years ago when the show was premiered at the Bristol Old Vic before going onto an extended run on London’s West End. For English audiences at the time, accustomed to big, splashy and very slick American musical theatre on stage and at the pictures, this jolly little English show with its likeable young lovers and cast of eccentrics was a breath of fresh air. The plot, in case you didn’t know, and for what it’s worth, concerns two young university graduates, Timothy and Jane, who are now setting out in the world together: We said we wouldn’t look back.
We’ve broken the ties, we’ve said the goodbyes, there’s no more for us to pack. Don’t turn round - we’re outward bound - and we said we wouldn’t look back ..
. They agree to.
