Troughtons host Swan show
AN emotional time was promised at Anything You Can Do, an evening of entertainment that took place at the Swan Theatre in Stratford on Sunday in aid of local charities. Actors Ali and David (currently Gloucester in the RSC’s King Lear), who have been putting on such shows for 30 years in the area, tell Gill Sutherland about it.
Please note this interview took place ahead of the event, which has now taken place.
Tell us about Anything You Can Do?
“We started 30 years ago with the first Holly and the Ivy show — that was with actors Phyllida Hancock and Des Barritt, and Jenny Farrell, who does so much for local charities. It became a Christmas tradition. It’s good we’re doing it in the Swan where it all started.”
What form does the entertainment take?
“A laugh, a song, and a tear. Apparently that was the basis for Jewish theatre,” explains Ali. “And if you didn’t get a laugh, a song, and a tear then you could get your money back — we won’t be making that offer though! The evening will be about the ups and downs of life, with poetry, prose and music.
“We dole out the scripts and parts at midday and then have lunch at The Duck [on Waterside], it’s always important to keep the actors fed.”
David adds: “It’s always by a wing and a prayer. Very much a spontaneous feel.”
Among the dazzling cast*, which include many RSC actors and musical folk, I understand there are two very specials guests.
“Our two granddaughters,” smiles Ali [the Troughtons have three sons: Sam and William — both now actors — and Jim, the former Warwickshire cricketer].
“Jim’s daughters, Eva, nine, and, Rosie, seven, are actually opening the show with any luck, if I can get them to do what I want them to do. Sam’s son, Finlay, would have been there but he’s just started big school and Sam is away filming a horror film in Romania, so it’s too tricky.”
What would you say to encourage people to come to Anything You Can Do?
David: “We hope lots of people come that have never been to the theatre before. “When they come to the Swan for the first time they are really gobsmacked by it. The Swan is my favourite theatre, it’s intimate but quite tricky to play. If you’ve never seen live theatre at the RSC, the evening will be a great gentle, funny introduction. It’s poetry prose and song, and we use all sorts, from Victoria Wood to Shakespeare — although only certain bits, we’re restricted on what we can use!”
*The cast on the evening will include: Ali Troughton, David Troughton (Tony in The Archers), Jim Troughton (ex-captain of Warwickshire CCC), William Troughton (Tom in The Archers), Naomi Troughton, Eva and Rosie Troughton, and, of course, Nick Asbury, Phyllida Hancock, Hannah Young, Jessica May on piano and welcoming Edward Bennett, last seen in the much acclaimed, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won at the RSC and Photograph 51 in the West End.
Anything You Can Do takes place at the Swan Theatre on Sunday, 16th October, at 7.30pm. Tickets, from £10, are available at the RSC box office. It is produced by Robert Moore and Tony Andrews, whose generosity and time has ensured that revenue from ticket sales will go to the three charities. They are: B-eat, the UK’s eating disorder charity; Lifeways Carers’ Café, Stratford, which provides a comfortable and friendly environment for unpaid family carers to meet twice a month; and Stratford Cricket Club Flood Appeal.
