Welcome to the website of
Tony Lidington & Promenade Promotions (Prom-Prom) Limited
“The art of British popular entertainment”
This website is for booking Prom-Prom’s accessible, family-friendly acts for 2024/5… it is also a treasure-trove of vernacular entertainments, containing Dr Tony Lidington’s research outputs, publications and archives on British popular performance forms.
Tony Lidington
“… some sort of unreconstructed music hall anarchist”
– John Fox, Welfare State International & Dead Good Guides
“A national treasure…”
– the late Duke of Edinburgh
This website is for booking Prom-Prom’s accessible, family-friendly acts for 2024/5… it is also a treasure-trove of vernacular entertainments, containing Dr Tony Lidington’s research outputs, publications and archives on British popular performance forms.
Tony Lidington
“… some sort of unreconstructed music hall anarchist”
– John Fox, Welfare State International & Dead Good Guides
“A national treasure…”
– the late Duke of Edinburgh
“Come and see the wonders of all wonders that ever the world has wondered at!” – Gustavus Katterfelto
– Wise words –
“One of the ways to avoid being beaten by the system is to laugh at it” – Peter Cook
“We don’t have a plan, so nothing can go wrong” – Spike Milligan
“This too shall pass…” from Hebrew and Sufi folklore
Latest Socials and Posts
My 43rd summer season is now at an end and we have had some marvellous times and fabulous responses - as always. Highlights have included Spike Bones' trip to the Magdeburg puppet festival in Germany, me presenting the country's finest puppeteers on the main stage at Coventry Belgrade, lovely local gigs at Stockland, Weymouth and various Pride events. As always, Exeter Quayside has been a great regular haunt and for the first time this year, we had the privilege of gaining private sponsorship to support a regular programme of work down at Dawlish Warren. ![]()
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The hot, dry weather proved a challenge to us at times (we even had to cancel 2 shows because the promoter thought it too hot for the audience!) and towards the end of the season, the torrential rain meant that we had to finish a couple of the ggs rather earlier than usual. ![]()
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The lack of resources for local authorities and smaller trusts and foundations has severely impacted the ability of our local town councils to support us in the way that they have in the past, which sadly meant that we had fewer regular slots at the seasides of south Devon this summer... this was a great pity and we were much-missed by many local people, who expressed their dismay at such lack of vision. ![]()
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Nevertheless, Prom-Prom's summer had 58 gigs at 33 different locations, employing 20 different artists! We would like to thank everyone who has worked with us, supported us and enjoyed the fun of another summer of seaside fun... ![]()
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I have attached just a few snaps of some of my favourite moments.![]()
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See you all again next year! ![]()
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Your Ever-Loving,![]()
Uncle Tacko!![]()
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I can now announce publicly that I am one of the 5 recipients of the prestigious Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre awards from the V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum). This will fund me to go and spend some time in London looking at the Patrick Newley and Dougie Byng archives in the spanking new East Stratford V&A storehouse. It will all give me plenty of food for thought (as you can see in the photograph!) From this research, I shall give a presentation at the V&A and then write a journal article, as well as uncovering more material for my play (or 'intimate revue') - 'Shuff & Byng'. There's more about it all on a V&A blog here: www.vam.ac.uk/blog/news/va-and-bunnett-muir-musical-theatre-archive-trust-award-their-first-music....
This weekend you can find us @lgbtteignmouth for #teignmouthpride2025 ![]()
On Sunday we’ll be on The Triangle 11am -3pm with Spike Bones’s Punch & Judy, @clivepig storyteller extraordinaire and plenty of seaside games and walkabout silliness with @penny_plonk and @george_fitzgibbon_ from the Sunshine Follies.![]()
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Come and say hello!![]()
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#discoverteignmouthanddawlish #teignmouth #whatsonteignmouth #seaside #pride #familytime❤️ #familyfun #familyholiday #whatsondevon #teignmouthcouncil
Here is a lovely video tribute to 40 years of 'Grand Theatre of Lemmingsmings' - congratulations to Mandy, Cassie and of course, Dashing Dave. Look closely and you'll glimpse Umberto (AKA Joe Fleming) and Uncle Tacko! - helping the stars of the show... It was grand to be a part of their fabulous street arts celebration in Manningtree earlier in the summer... ![]()
Streets Alive! Celebrating 40 years of Lemmings Theatre
youtu.be
Join us for a whistle-stop video tour of all of the creations and achievements from The Grand Theatre of Lemmings from the previous 40 years!Featuring:Stilt ...
Here’s the evidence of my summer with the stars - Uncle Tacko! & Hacker T Dog onstage together at the Coventry Belgrade Theatre for the centenary of the Puppet & Model Theatre Guild of Great Britain… www.instagram.com/reel/DMvxTGEMuBL/?igsh=bDYwMmVjb2JxNmpy
It’s nearly the end of the summer holidays 😢![]()
But don’t worry! There’s still one more week to enjoy and we have lots of FREE family fun to keep you entertained!![]()
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Monday![]()
@spike.bones_ Punch & Judy at @thewarrenbridgeinn ![]()
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Tuesday ![]()
Last chance to catch Spike Bones Punch & Judy in #Paignton at the Ibis Hotel on the esplanade.![]()
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Thursday ![]()
Last Dawlish Warren event with Spike Bones on Seaside games, Uncle Tacko’s famous Fleas, Mickey Bimble’s suitcase circus and we’ll be joined by Marigold, one of our Sunshine Follies with her Hula Hooping Hi-jinx.![]()
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Friday ![]()
It’s the last Free Quay Friday of the season and you’ll find us on the Piazza (opposite side to the Transit Shed). We’ll have Uncle Tacko’s Flea Circus, Noisy Oyster puppets, Darryl Carringron a wonderful juggling clown, seaside games with Spike Bones and the brilliant @penny_plonk @george_fitzgibbon_ and Marigold of the Sunshine Follies. We’ll also be joined by the brilliant Ben The Juggler!![]()
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We’d love to see you!![]()
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#dawlishtowncouncilevents #dawlish #dawlishwarren #thelawn #whatsondawlish #whatsondevon #familytime❤️ #famikyfun #familyholiday @discoverdawlishwarren @exeter.quayside @exetercustomhouse @exeterculture
