Hitchin's long-lost Regal Theatre on BBC concert featuring Fun Boy Three from 1983 - were you there

By Layth Yousif

18th Oct 2021 | Local News

Hands up who saw a long-lost Hitchin venue on television over the weekend?

Our town's Regal Theatre, which is now the site of Regal Chambers surgery on Bancroft, made an appearance on the BBC.

Music lovers will know that BBC Four on a Friday evening is packed with great sounds from iconic bands.

But when an episode from the Old Grey Whistle Test featuring Fun Boy Three in 1983 was broadcast, many music lovers in our town settled down to watch.

Not least because the band played at Hitchin's iconic Regal Theatre, with the opening credits featuring the long-torn down building and shots of Bancroft.

Hitchin has played host to many big names over the years, with the Regal and the old town hall notable on the live circuit, which also saw Bob Marley play in our town.

With Fun Boy Three including former Specials Terry Hall and Neville Staple, naturally the set at the Regal on April 5, 1983 featured a nod to their back catalogue, with Gangsters opening the night.

While one of Fun Boy Three's most distinctive tunes T'aint What You Do - originally a jazz tune first recorded by Ella Fitzgerald in 1939 - also blasted out that night in Hitchin nearly 40 years ago. The Things We Do, Our Lips are Sealed (co-written by Jane Wiedlin, guitarist of the Go-Go's, and Hall) Tunnel of Love and Summertime also made the set.

Were you there? We'd love to hear from you if you were.

Who remembers the Regal Theatre? Were you there the night in question? What other bands did you see there? Share your memories with Nub News for a future REWIND piece.

     

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