A vivid memory from a London theatre in 1963, involving the legendary comedian Spike Milligan and the shocking news of a president's death, has been shared in a poignant letter to the editor.
A Night at the Theatre with Spike Milligan
The recollection comes from Steven Bowditch, who attended a performance of the absurdist play The Bed-Sitting Room as a 16-year-old. His trip was organised by a church youth club, but the evening took an unexpected turn due to a ticketing error. The theatre had double-sold their seats, resulting in Bowditch and his group being relocated to a box situated right next to the stage.
This unique vantage point placed them directly in the line of sight of the show's star, Spike Milligan. During the performance, Milligan famously broke the fourth wall. He climbed up the outside of the box and peered over at the occupants. To the astonishment of the young audience members, he then shouted a prophetic line about theatrical hierarchy: “There will come a time when all those in the box will sit at the back of the theatre and all those at the back will have the best seats!”
Never one to miss a comedic beat, Milligan followed this with a more pointed, cheeky question aimed directly at the group: “You’re not on complimentaries, are you?” This spontaneous interaction created an indelible memory for the teenage attendees.
The Sombre Journey Home
The surreal comedy of the evening was about to be overshadowed by global tragedy. On the coach journey back home to Carlisle, the driver noticed something unusual. Scores of people were gathered on otherwise empty streets, purchasing copies of the late-night final edition of the newspapers.
Curious, the driver stopped to investigate. The date was 22 November 1963. The headlines delivered news that would shock the world: President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The juxtaposition of Milligan's anarchic comedy and the sombre reality of a historic assassination created a powerful, lasting imprint.
An Unforgettable Contrast
Steven Bowditch's account perfectly captures a moment where personal experience collided with world history. The memory of Spike Milligan's live, unpredictable genius—a hallmark of his career in comedy and theatre—is forever linked with the collective grief and disbelief that followed President Kennedy's death.
This story serves as a powerful reminder of how certain dates become fixed in personal history, framed by the vivid details of where we were and what we were doing when monumental events unfolded. For one group of theatregoers, the absurdity of The Bed-Sitting Room and the profound tragedy of November 1963 are inextricably intertwined.
