Spangles ‘n’ Tights: A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

A hilarious comedy about the struggles of a Dublin theatrical costumier

The show must go on!

Dublin-based Dessie (David Kelly) and Violet Doyle (Pauline McLynn) are trying to keep their theatrical costumier business afloat amidst drama, scandal and farce so brilliant it should be on stage itself. Attempting to embrace modern working practices, the pair find themselves in uproarious situations with a cast of colourful characters and multiple narrative threads…

Listen and laugh as the beleaguered couple embrace an offer from a local nun’s drama group which might help, if only they don’t get things mixed up with the Gaiety Theatre’s opera production… Things go from bad to worse when the costumiers are asked to dress a British Embassy pageant, and unwittingly become embroiled in a money-laundering scandal. Salvation may be on the cards if they can deliver some vintage army uniforms to an American movie set, but a resident ghost seems to have other ideas. And trouble is brewing when two rival clog troupes threaten to come to blows… How will Violet create a special cloak for Sir Walter Raleigh with all that racket going on?!

Pure radio comedy, Spangles ’n’ Tights is a fantastically hilarious, fast-paced farce. This perfectly turned-out series is an utterly charming listen, and will have you ab-sew-lutely in stitches.

Irish writer, theatre and TV director, Christopher Fitz-Simon is the author of Ballylenon, the long-running BBC comedy drama. He has written numerous broadcast plays, including a BBC Italia Prize entry (The Dead) and two RTE Italia Prize entries (for Vina and A Snowman in July), and several books, including the memoir Eleven Houses.


Written by Christopher Fitz-Simon
Directed by Roland Jaquarello
Music played by John Trotter

Pursued by a Bear
Dessie Doyle - David Kelly
Violet Doyle - Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan - Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara - Frank Kelly
Sister Accumulata - Doreen Keogh
Mr Hornibrooks - Mark Mulholland
P.J Clohessy - Derry Power
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 Sept 1998

The Ambassador
Dessie Doyle - David Kelly
Violet Doyle - Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan - Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara - Frank Kelly
Mr Bagshott - Bosco Hogan
Polly Hoskins - Ali White
Lady Bletchley - Sylvia Syms
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 Oct 1998

A Folk Song for Europe
Dessie Doyle - David Kelly
Violet Doyle - Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan - Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara - Frank Kelly
Mona Scrummitt - Noreen Kershaw
Mr Witherspoon - Dave Hill
Belfast Woman - Maureen Dow
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 Oct 1998

Medieval Banquet
Dessie Doyle - David Kelly
Violet Doyle - Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan - Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara - Frank Kelly
Fidelma Fitzpatrick - Roma Tomelty
High King - Birdy Sweeney
Cliona O'Sloothrahaun - Anna Byrne
Cardinal Poggibonsi - John Keyes
Court Jester - Paddy Scully
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 Oct 1998

The Movie
Dessie Doyle - David Kelly
Violet Doyle - Pauline McLynn
Antony Gogan - Eugene O'Brien
Mr McNamara - Frank Kelly
Mike - Dan Gordon
Mouser Dolan - Kevin Flood
Ron Berglas - Buddy Kowalski
Gwynne McElveen - Starlet
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 Oct 1998

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