Irreplaceable memorabilia taken from Navy Lark tribute show

‘Irreplaceable’ memorabilia from classic radio comedy The Navy Lark was stolen from a theatre staging a tribute show last night.

Original photographs and postcards were taken from a display set up in the foyer of the Epsom Playhouse in Surrey, part of a collection which had been lent to the touring production by a fan of the long-running programme.

James Hurn, one of the actors in the show, told Chortle: ‘We always put up a memorabilia table in the foyer of each venue we perform at and leave it up until the end of the show. 

‘When we came to pack up, the table was all messed up, and we quickly realised that a CD, original photos and postcards were missing. 

‘These are irreplaceable items lent to us from a very lovely gentleman behind The Navy Lark appreciation society, and he has been collecting this stuff for more than 40 years.’

Hurn is touring the show with colleagues Richard Usher and Mark Earby, recreating three classic episodes from the show. The original ran from 1959 to 1977 and starred Leslie Phillips, Dennis Price, Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee as the hapless crew of HMS Troutbridge.

Pertwee’s son Sean was one of those who retweeted an appeal for the return of the items – with ‘no questions asked’, according to Hurn.

It is understood there are CCTV cameras in the Playhouse foyer, which theatre staff are checking.

Published: 19 Feb 2020