Put your feet in the stirrups, rump in the saddle and hold on tight – we’re off to the races.


We’d gone to The Churchill Theatre in Bromley to see classic Victorian comedy Dandy Dick, starring Patricia Hodge and Nicholas Le Provost.


Think of all the fabulous horsey puns possible, mixed with the charm and humour of Sense and Sensibility and you’re half way there.


It was lovely to see the theatre packed out with excited patrons on a Tuesday evening, and as the curtains were drawn I was amazed at how beautiful the set was.


We were in the magnificent Morning Room of The Very Reverend Augustin Jedd (Le Provost), where his two rather spoilt, yet endearing, teenage daughters Salome and Sheba were plotting their escape to the fancy dress ball.


It was clear from the start money problems were one of the play’s key themes as the girls fretted over the bill for their costumes and the Dean sweated over his pledge of £1,000 to the spire repairs.


Cue the arrival of the marvellous Georgiana Tidman (Hodge), the Dean’s long unseen sister whose only passion in life is the gee-gees.


The races are in town and Augustin is adamant his family is to have nothing to do with it.


Little does he know Georgiana owns half of one of the favourite racers Dandy Dick, and she intends to win big.


Utter chaos ensues as everyone on stage – even the abstinent Dean – gives in to the thrill of gambling.


Before you know it, the butler turns corrupt, Augustin becomes a jail bird and the family is on a mission to break him out.


The acting was absolutely superb throughout and we were even treated to live piano playing by Florence Andrews (Salome) and singing from the entire cast. 


I particularly enjoyed the incredible sets, moments of thunder which had me leaping from my seat and stunning costumes.


We felt like we’d been propelled back to the Victorian era for a night of good, clean, fun and games.
Georgiana’s constant flow of horse-related phrases was immensely impressive – the equestrian one-liner well never seemed to dry up.


Perhaps in its time, Pinero’s Dandy Dick was somewhat controversial with a religious figurehead giving in to the temptation of gambling.


But today, this comedy is nothing but innocent, charmingly chaotic light relief – a wonderfully extravagant role for Hodge.


Visit atgtickets.com to find on what’s on at The Churchill Theatre.