Hudson and Halls Live - bringing nostalgia back to the Bay

Chris Parker (right) with Todd Emerson re-create Hudson and Halls as part of the Tauranga Arts Festival. Their last show is tonight. Photo/supplied.

A comedy based on the much-loved 1980's TV cooking show Hudson and Halls is giving audiences a big dose of nostalgia, and there's just one more chance to see it.

Chris Parker, Todd Emerson and Anya Tate-Manning brought the show back to life for the Tauranga Arts Festival on Wednesday night with the opening show of Hudson and Halls Live. The show returns tonight for its last performance in the Tauranga Arts Festival.

Parker, who plays David Hall, described the show as a live recording of the 1980's television show, with real onstage cooking and "lots of drinking".

Hudson and Halls Live opened on Wednesday night bringing back a bit of nostalgia to the Tauranga Arts Festival. L-R Chris Parker, Anya Tate-Manning and Todd Emerson. Photo/ Andrew Warner

He said many would remember the charismatic cooking show but through much audience inclusion, even those who were not familiar with the original show would be entertained.

"It doesn't matter if you're 100 or 10, everyone will enjoy the show."

Emerson, who takes on the role of Peter Hudson, said the "camp cooks cook dreadfully and everything goes wrong".

Emerson said Hudson and Halls was the "original cooking show," long before My Kitchen Rules or Masterchef were even thought of.

Anya Tate-Manning, who plays stage manager Ngaire Watkins, said the show was very "funny and fast".

Tate-Manning said she knew of people who remembered watching the original show on the BBC and a family friend who saw it in the UK would be at a live performance in Tauranga.

The show had been touring on and off since 2015, from Kerikeri to Wanaka, and the final show would be in Dunedin later this year.

The show begins at Baycourt at 8.30pm. Tickets are available at Ticketek or Baycourt box office.