An all-star dark comedy set in the mysterious world of Dr Caligari

In a seedy backstreet, in a rotting theatre, the sinister Dr Caligari runs a cabaret with his demonic assistants, Snuff and Anthrax. A riot of a listen, this surreal and macabre comedy follows the smooth-talking Dr Caligari as he encourages unwilling guests to tell their story in his London nightclub. Written by Alan Gilbey, strange encounters and dark mysteries are recounted by guest acts on London’s most bizarre stage. Listen to a DJ haunted by calls from all those he has wronged, fall into the dreams of a yuppie estate agent battling with her trade union boss father and feel your flesh crawl as an MP discovers what ‘cuts’ to the NHS really mean. Meanwhile, the homeless of London are turned into a giant marauding blob and a horror film fan becomes trapped in a fantasy of his own creation.

Grisly Tales from the Cabaret of Dr Caligari features an all-star cast, including the legendary John Woodvine as Dr Caligari with Adjoa Andoh, best known for her role in Netflix’s Bridgerton, alongside Stephen Tompkinson who has appeared in the TV shows Drop the Dead Donkey, Ballykissangel and the film Brassed Off.

Cast and credits
Written by Alan Gilbey with jokes from Lee Hurst
Produced by Anne Edyvean
Dr Calgari - John Woodvine
Snuff - Sylvester McCoy
Anthrax - Victoria Wicks

DJ Rick O’Shea - Kerry Shale
Tracey/Gail/The Computer - Jane Whittenshaw
Donna/Ali/Estate Agent/Mrs Meagre - Adoja Andoh
Keith - Mark Straker
Sparks/Wayne/Postman/The Present - Clarence Smith
Kevin Scorch/Tope Romero - Stephen Tompkinson
Bernie Cladding/Tarquin - Ronald Herdman
Sidney Grease/Jeremy/Damien/Agent Orange/The Future - Alan Barker
Debbie Brothers - Joanna May
‘Flash’ Jack Brothers - Roger Watkins
Tom - Terence Edmond
Dick - Eric Allan
Carrie/Kate Pushy/The Past - Cassie Macfarlane
The General - Charles Milham
Homeless Geordie - Gerald Denny
Homeless Boy - David McKinney
Professor Pseudonym - Richard Tate
The Hitchhiker - Sharon Henry
Mr Meagre - John Shrapnel
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7th Nov - 12th Dec 1991