REVIEW: Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s ‘SPIKE’ opens at Salisbury Playhouse

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s absurdly funny new play opened at Salisbury Playhouse last night (4th October 2022).

SPIKE delves into the inner workings of one of the UK’s most unique and brilliantly irreverent comedy minds – Spike Milligan.

Set in austerity-hit ’50s Britain, the production follows the rise of the BBC Radio comedy show which changed the face of British Comedy and still influences comedians today.

The Goon Show combined the best performers of the time – Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe with Spike Milligan, the most original comedy writer of his generation.

Writers, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman said they were keen to do something to mark 100 years since the birth of Spike (1918) but – in true Milligan style – delivered it four years late.

Everything that you see in the play is based on true events. Ian and Nick were given a wedge of letters – including internal memos and correspondence between Spike and the BBC – which are featured in the show.

“Everything is factual from Spike’s own writing (even though) he is known to be an unreliable memoirist,” said Ian.

The performance opens with a hilarious demonstration in the BBC sound effects department. A young sound engineer uses an eclectic range of objects to scrape, hit, bang and clop in order to make the sounds needed for the show. It’s a strong start, with the whole audience laughing out from the very beginning.

As the story goes on, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers embrace the lifestyle of becoming overnight celebrities, while fellow Goon and chief writer Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy and testing the patience of the BBC.

In the post-show Q&A session with Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, Ian said, “Spike needed something to fight against.” He described the play as “the war between Spike and the BBC.”

As Spike goes on to fight against stubborn BBC schedulers, new producers (who try to keep up with his wit and humour but fail every time) and his own mental health, his ability to find the funny has the crowd laughing and clapping throughout.

The performance takes a nuanced approach which appreciates Spike’s mental health issues but encompasses his style of dark humour to show that they made him, and his comedy, who he was.

The performance finished with a feel-good atmosphere and the crowd erupted in applause as the cast left the stage saying, “We love Salisbury – what a great crowd!”

You can see SPIKE at Salisbury Playhouse from Tuesday 4th October – 8th October 2022 with matinee and evening performances available.

Tickets start from £15 – book your tickets here.

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Photography by Pamela Raith.