A talk by Ralph Oswick

For those readers and listeners not familiar with the at one time ubiquitous Natural Theatre Company and its performances, Ralph Oswick explained the premise. The actors would appear to be ordinary people, put in an extraordinary situation – to make people who saw them laugh, or think, or generally be interested in something that had at first sight seemed ordinary. The humour transcends language – it hinges on familiar and mundane characters doing unfamiliar things.

Ralph explained that he had been the first Artistic Director of the Natural Theatre Company (Nats) and had remained in post until his retirement. It was not his first job – that had been as a mortuary attendant but had only lasted a couple of years. It’s not clear why this should have been seen as relevant experience for the role of leading and designing the activities of the Nats (perhaps it’s to do with the importance of maintaining a deadpan expression – Ed). He joined the Nats in 1969, having been offered two weeks work for this new theatre company in Bath. He never went back . . .  despite his mother asking with increasing weariness if he would consider getting a ‘proper job’.

One of the features of the Nats is that the players, in whatever role, would always be immaculately dressed (even though they might be wearing, for example, a flowerpot over their heads). This made it easier for them to avoid arrest, if challenged by a confused law enforcement officer.

Ralph’s alter ego, Lady Margaret, renowned for her posh frocks and astonishing hats, was a spin-off from a character in a Women’s Institute play. Her forte is cutting ribbons, launching events (rarely ships) and judging cakes. Or dogs. (Lady Margaret on the roof of the tin church in Batheaston – photo courtesy of Bath Newseum – Ed)

Ribbon cutting sometimes morphed into something else. Ralph remembered a piece that had been very popular when Don Foster was Bath’s MP. The skit about cuts in Arts Council funding was illustrated by Ralph cutting the tie of whatever VIP was involved – but as he approached the MP with a large pair of shears, it occurred to him that Don might not have been warned not to wear his best designer silk tie – fortunately he took it in good part.

The Nats are fondly remembered in Bath for their appearances locally – but they have also appeared in far-flung locations. Some of their memorable but improbable venues have included a hot air balloon; a dole office – in Ecuador; a bar mitzvah; the roof of a public toilet; the London Eye; a submarine; an underground car park; a Barratts show home; Glastonbury Festival; Raffles Hotel; a sewage pumping station; a koala bar reserve; a car assembly line; and a MacDonald’s Drive Thru – in Minsk. They haven’t (yet! – Ed) appeared in a prison or either of the Houses of Parliament.

Ralph regaled us with anecdotes about their performances at home and abroad. Everyone who heard him will have their favourites. A lasting memory of Lady Margaret’s talent in rising to the occasion, was an episode in – improbably – Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The British Embassy was holding a party in the garden of the British Pub for the late Queen’s birthday (they all do that, Ralph told me later, nonchalantly – Ed) when she was accidentally shut out of the event she was supposed to be opening, having slid off to the pub during the speeches. (Ralph’s excuse was that the promised limo hadn’t turned up so he’d walked round the block ‘in full frock’, not being aware that it was illegal in Turkmenistan to wear drag in public. – Ed) On being barred entry by the bouncers, she looked round and noticed a well-dressed woman who on being asked, said she was the wife of the Algerian Ambassador. Lady Margaret grabbed her by the arm, strode up to the bouncers demanding ‘Don’t you know who we are?’ in her poshest tones, while elbowing them aside – she and the by now slightly bemused and breathless VIP’s wife arrived at the ribbon just in time to perform the ceremonial cutting. As with all comedy, timing is everything.