Ally Sloper's Half Holiday

Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday was the name of a weekly comic strip which first appeared on 3 May 1884.   

Before Superman, Spiderman, Desperate Dan and  Dennis the Menace came Ally Sloper.  From 1884 until the 1920s, the red-nosed social climber who poked fun at the English people and their customs was a household name and national favourite.

Ally Sloper takes us into the realms of the first comic strip character whole Beano and Dandy. This comic strip started it all. Here is a man who became an institution, a national hero. People actually believed that he existed, they even wrote to him and joined his club. There were medals presented in his name.

He represented the hopes and aspirations of a whole new class of people, brought about by the industrial revolution. The aristocracy was under threat and the perennial class dilemma was at the fore.

Chris Harris and Chris Denys wrote this show based on Sloper, originally performed by Chris Harris.  Ally Sloper is not brought to life by Steve Taylor.  the play takes us to  Ascot, Lords and the Summer Exhibition. 

The running gag throughout the play is the arrival (or not!) of Queen Victoria.  We thought it appropriate to release this audio drama during the Platinum Jubilee weekend of her great, great granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II.


Ally Sloper - Steve Taylor

Studio Recording & Production - Harry Jacobs
assisted by - Jacob Taylor

Music - James Hall   https://www.jamesahall.co.uk/


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