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Caroline

 
Paul T. Davies Review by Paul T. Davies 4 Published: 8 Jun 2026 Mercury Theatre - Colchester Show Dates: 3 Jun 2026-13 Jun 2026

It feels very strange now to know that, in the Sixties, the BBC had such a monopoly on radio that Radio Caroline, the most famous of the pirate radio stations, was founded to give young people the pop music they wanted to listen to. Shaking up the establishment, it was anchored three miles off the Essex coast and provides excellent locality for this first production by the East Anglian Touring Consortium. Caroline arrives at the Mercury Theatre and is a historically fascinating show, although a little too formulaic in places, particularly in an overlong first half that perhaps contains a few too many jingles to make the point that this was a commercial radio station. But writer Vikki Stone has created effective references to the period (the DJ Robbie is a nod to Tony Blackburn, the Postmaster General an amalgamation of MPs), and the songs are woven very well into the narrative.

Radio Caroline was huge and is given deserved recognition in this highly entertaining show

Encountering their own choppy waters, Craig Mather stepped in at 24 hours’ notice to play Robbie due to the indisposition of the original actor. He went on with the book, was excellent and deserved the standing ovation. The cast are multi-talented, moving from instrument to instrument and playing a lively bunch of characters. As Robbie’s girlfriend Caroline, Claire-Lee Shenfield soars with excellent vocals, particularly in the second-half solo You’re My World, and Eloise Richardson is a good foil as her best friend Mary. Gareth Cooper brings the jeopardy as the Postmaster General, his extreme snobbery and conviction that he speaks for the nation perfectly portrayed. The founding of the station is fascinating and conveyed well by Nicola Bryan and Joey Hickman, and Perry Meadowcroft is scene-stealing in a succession of roles, particularly a “racy” voiceover. The song selection, overall, is excellent, and the direction by Douglas Rintoul keeps the pace smooth.

Although the first half does plod a little in places, things really get going in Act Two, beginning with a storming version of My Generation, which allows the talent to stretch and entertain us. As legal challenges begin to block the broadcasting, the real legacy of Caroline becomes clear: the founding of four new radio stations, especially Radio One, central to my youth. With up to twenty million listeners daily, Radio Caroline was huge and is given deserved recognition in this highly entertaining show.

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The Blurb:

“A radio station for young people! Why do we need that? We both enjoy Housewives’ Choice, don’t we Caroline?”

1964, Clacton-on-Sea.

Caroline and her best friend Mary spend their days stacking shelves and return home to their mothers listening to Housewives’ Choice on the BBC. Every night they escape to the pier to eat chips, laugh and talk about music with Caroline’s charismatic boyfriend Robbie.

But a music revolution is coming, and Robbie lands a shock gig with Radio Caroline – the pirate r