So what would be iconic and fun for a late '50s post-apocalyptic Britain?
In science-fiction terms, it's the decade of John Wyndham (
Day of the Triffids, The Kraken Wakes, The Chrysalids) and Nigel Kneale (the
Quatermass serials, the BBC adaptation of
Nineteen Eighty-Four).
In the movies, you're getting the first Hammer horrors, the Ealing comedies, Dirk Bogarde and Diana Dors, the first
St Trinian's films (hoos creeaytur, ronald sirl, is also sending Nigel Molesworth to St Custards, chizz, chizz), and those peaks of intelligent, thoughtful cinematic SF,
The Trollenberg Terror and
Devil Girl from Mars.
On the radio, there's
Dick Barton, Special Agent and
Journey into Space.
The Archers is spreading agricultural knowledge like muck. Above all, there is the
Goon Show.
In pop culture, you've got the Teddy Boys, while Trad Jazz is squaring off against the first "modernists" (Mods, as they became known).
Lots of good source material there. Neddy Seagoon, Bluebottle, Eccles, Major Bloodnok and Min would be a good start!
Edit: I forgot to mention comics. This is the decade of
The Eagle and
Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future - not actually post-apocalyptic, but Dan's first mission to Venus was motivated by food shortages.
And perhaps post-apocalyptic Britain should be teeming with the feral children of the baby boom - this is when
The Beano was selling more than a million copies a week on the back of newly-introduced characters
Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx and
The Bash Street Kids.
Remember: Remain Indoors and Don't Think About The Event.
Blessed be the Regulations!