St Nicolas Players

Note from the Director ...

The Vicar of Dibley first hit our screens in 1994, and quickly became one of the most sucessful programmes in the digital era. Winning multile awards, including two international Emmys, British comedy awards and mulitiple BAFTAs, it was then placed third in Britain's best sitcom in 2004.

Created by Richard Curtis, the sitcome is based around the appointment of Dibley's first female vicar and the struggles she has winning over the village. Particually relevent when, in 1992, changes in the Church of England meant that women were permitted to be ordained for the first time. The main character was an invention of Richard Curtis, but her and Dawn French extensively consulted the Rev. Joy Carroll, one of the first female vicars, and gathered many character traits and much information from her. 

When I first heard that the Vicar of Dibley had been adapted in to a stage play I jumped at the chance to direct the show. The stage version is based on the first two series' and featurers all the characters that we have grown to love over the years.

Every stage production requires a huge team effort and this show is no exeption. The Vicar of Dibley is a complex piece to stage, from the number of props and costumes required to the perfect comedy timing needed from the cast. I am very lucky to have had a talented team behind me and I would like to take this oppertunity to thank everyone who has made this show possible, from the set construction team to those coordinating all the behind the scenes stuff, this show simply would not have made it to the stage.

After all the hard work the cast have put in, the show is finally ready and it is you the audience who provide the final piece to our puzzle. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I have enjoyed staging it. So, sit back, relax and let us take you on a journey to Dibley. And remember ... a day without laughter is like a day without sunshine.

Rob Nicholls, Director