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Silliness beyond words: noughties children’s TV presenters Dick and Dom are back!Summary
Rating
Excellent
If you grew up in 2000’s Britain, you have most likely spent some Saturday mornings watching grown
men make fart jokes and bother strangers – and loved it! For those unfamiliar, the concept behind
Dick and Dom in da Bungalow is primal ridiculousness, toilet humour, and slime. After a long hiatus,
the duo have brought the TV show to the stage, and Shepherd’s Bush comes alive with the sound of
“bogies”.
This production is a real nostalgia trip for Britain’s twenty-somethings. We see Dick and Dom
(Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood), in their now middle-aged glory, run through their highlights
from the past, starting with a series of silly walks and dances. They lean in to the context of the
show: it is low-brow humour and a cancelled TV show, and the performance is all the better for this
approach. Entirely unpretentious, the occasional costume slip or ad-lib gives this production its
charm and leaves the audience feeling like part of an in-joke.
A selection of audience members are invited to be part of the show, becoming contestants in
challenges, or “Bungalow Heads”. This includes a “Bangers and Dash” race in which they dress as
sausages and jockeys; “Rumpy Pumpy” in which inflatable trousers are utilised; and “What a Sweaty
Flap”, which is surprisingly PG and involves a chicken dance. In a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’,
it has certainly paid off to keep the original style of the TV show rather than adapting it to be more
adult. The cast poke fun at the pair’s use of innuendo, which audience members had failed to pick up
on as children, and this makes for a hilarious outcome as they revisit the concept in the anniversary
tour. The show incorporates throwback clips from the past and skits including “Diddy Dick and
Dom”, a game of shouting “Bogies”, and a police sketch with character DI Harry Batt. It is great to be
reminded of the show’s extensive lore, and a pleasure to indulge in silliness.
Outside of the core participants, audience members are invited to dance, sing, and shout along. It
was as if the audience had lost their minds with their level of enthusiasm, screaming with cheers at
special guests including Ian Kirkby and Melvin Odoom, whom they remembered from the original.
Clearly the contents of the show have a special place deep in the British psyche; a phenomenon
which is great in live theatre but perhaps worrying for the state of society. Some attendees had
brought children along, and the show worked well for new audiences as well as old. The crowd were
invited to be rowdy, reminiscent of a relaxed performance, and younger guests seemed thrilled by
the onslaught of silly words.
Having not known what to expect from “The Messiest Night Out in the UK”, I left thoroughly tickled
and understanding of why my mother would rather I read books than listen to “The Grunty Song”.
This show is not for the faint of heart when it comes to slime and bottom humour, but a resounding
hit with the people of Shepherd’s Bush. Fun and farts – a timeless combo!
Created by: Dick and Dom
Dick and Dom – In Da Bungalow 20th Anniversary tours the UK until 14 May 2023. Full tour dates available here.
