BEFORE THE BUSES - words, music,more music, and dance!

Apparently some people who’ve seen my beautiful poster for the Reg Varney event on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 July thought that it was advertising a talk.

No, it’s very far from a talk. 

And it's not On the Buses. Sorry, no Jack, Blakey, Olive & co. 

Before The Buses is a show of about two hours, based on Reg Varney's little-known early life as a gifted singer and musician, making his way in the difficult times of the 1930s and telling us in a charmingly honest way about some of the amusing and often embarrassing experiences that he describes in his autobiography The Little Clown - well worth buying if you can find a copy. 

I thought I'd show you in advance, page by page, the souvenir programme. 

Click on each image to make it bigger. 

Yes, it's at the Football Club and this time I've inserted the postcode so that people can find it more easily. There's plenty of parking if you're coming by car. 

And there are professional performers! 

All very talented and well known to many concert and theatre goers.

And these are the items which will give you the two hours of enjoyment. Yes, some readings by actor James Cotter, based on what we think are lively and amusing episodes from Reg Varney's autobiography. 

But also really well known songs from the 1930s by composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, sung by actress Madalaine Pearce whose family come from East Budleigh. But by coincidence Maddie now lives in Canning Town, where Reg Varney was born. 

Plus, to give the show even more lively spectacle, performances by the South West Lindy Hoppers - their website is at http://www.swlindyhoppers.org.uk/

The whole show has been put together by Budleigh's own Steve Andrews who has had many years of experience writing for the theatre. 

And those involved with our Before The Buses show are deeply grateful for the help that they've had from a variety of sources, especially Bradleys Estate Agents for printing all our promotional material. 

The show is a well deserved tribute to one of Britain's best known comic actors, whose many other talents you can discover if you visit Fairlynch Museum's exhibition. The display of Reg Varney's original oil paintings, all for sale, runs until 30 October.

Before The Buses is also a charity event, raising money for three worthy causes. Tickets are only £8. 

So, if you haven't yet booked your tickets at the Tourist Information Centre or at the Football Club in Budleigh Salterton, do act fast to make sure that you enjoy what is going to be a memorable and very special event. There are only two performances: Friday 1 and Saturday 2 July, at 7.30 pm.