Wild Oats was an example of a play being brought back from the dead. It was written and premiered in 1791, and only rarely performed thereafter.  Having languished in obscurity for a century or so, the RSC reclaimed it in 1976, giving it a dazzling revival with an excellent cast. It was in the wake of that production that John David programmed it to begin the Bristol Old Vic’s 1982 autumn season.

The cast was a mix of Bristol Old Vic regulars (Ian Price, James Cairncross, Mark Buffery, Ian Lindsay, Carolyn Moody) and visitors (Tessa Peake-Jones, Tony Guilfoyle, Veronica Quilligan, Kerry Shale).  By this time, I guess,  I was in the former category, with two nice little character roles.

Also in the cast, straight from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, was Stephen Dillane, who was to have an excellent career as a leading actor. Even with very little to do here,  he was compelling on stage. And a very interesting and likeable person.