Magical first visit remains a vivid memory

ICAN remember my first visit to the Hippodrome better than I can remember most of yesterday, even though it was 40 years ago and I was about eight years old. It was memorable because it was magical.

And it was magical because it was the first time I'd been to a theatre and the first time I'd seen a TV star in real life.

And I was transfixed by both. Which, on the TV stars front, is surprising. Because they were Ronnie Corbett and Clodagh Rodgers. In panto. Cinderella, I think.

The name Clodagh Rodgers will mean nothing to readers under the age of 40. But she really meant something back then. She was a household name, an Irish singer, who often appeared on Saturday night programmes like The Two Ronnies or Morecambe and Wise.

But what really held my attention was the experience. The theatre felt like an ornate, velvety cocoon. The stars really did look larger than life. The music was loud and impressive. It was probably the first time I had heard live music like that.

I remember being close enough to notice that Ronnie Corbett was sweating in his Buttons costume and that Clodagh's blonde curls were not as blonde or as curly as they seemed on our DER rental set at home.

But no matter. I laughed like a drain at every terrible joke and sang along loudly to every contrived re-working of the hits of the day. As far as I remember, my nan managed to stop arguing with my dad for long enough to come with us and I remember looking along the faces of my family as they all laughed, family feuds forgotten in the moment.

Ironically, however, my strongest memory of that first visit is leaving the building. I vividly remember emerging from the warm, red room in to the cold night – straight to the No 1 bus stop directly outside from which we would return to Brislington.

And that's what I see still every time I leave a show at the Hippodrome. My sister, my mum and my dad silhouetted in the crowd against the lights of the centre. And, regardless of the time of year, I cannot help but be filled with the same impatient expectation for the bus and for Christmas Day.

vtech phone batteries customize phone cases phone covers for samsung