Making the dream come true
Let's Talk|January 2020
Dick and Angel Strawbridge, stars of Channel Four’s hit TV series, Escape to the Chateau, are heading to Ipswich as part of their Dare To Do It theatre tour early next year. The retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and his designer wife tell us that they hope audiences will be inspired by their story of bringing an abandoned French castle back to life.
Making the dream come true

WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA OF DOING THIS NEW LIVE THEATRE SHOW?

We receive many lovely e-mails from viewers that have followed our journey and they tell us that one day they intend on coming to meet us. So instead of waiting for them to come to us, we decided to go to them!

Life at the Chateau is busy for us; hosting events, balancing family life, and filming. So there aren’t many opportunities for people to spend time with us here at the Chateau.

We thought a tour of the UK would be a family adventure and allow us to meet many more people!

DO YOU HOPE THE THEATRE TOUR MIGHT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BE MORE ADVENTUROUS IN THEIR LIFE?

Hopefully, our story will encourage people to follow their dream and if they leave us realising that life is for living, we will have done a good job.

We always say that you can’t write the script that puts a crusty old colonel and a city girl in a castle in France with two beautiful children. Our story is a love story that has been shaped by us dreaming about our life together and then doing it. Hopefully, this is a strong message and may encourage others to ‘dare to do it’!

YOU BOTH COME FROM QUITE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SECRET OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND BUSINESS SUCCESS?

Passion and a good work ethic.

WHY FRANCE?

After a romantic holiday early in our relationship, we decided that the simple life and long lunches in France were for us. We haven’t fully embraced that lifestyle yet, but it’s a beautiful country and when we discovered what we could get for our money our fate was sealed!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL DAYS AND HOW YOUR CAREER PROGRESSED, ANGEL.

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