Journey's End

The play is set during four days in a officers dug out in October 1917.

It tells the story of eight officers in a World War One trench waiting for the big offensive to happen. We see their mundane routine, the drinking, even down to marking the hours off on a piece of paper. Eighteen year old Lieutenant Raleigh is a new arrival that meets his new commanding officer, Captain Stanhope (Laurie Weston and Dave Crossfield) who he knew from school on a personal basis. The story is held together by Lieutenant Osborne (Colin Ritchie) who tries to keep their spirits up and is uncle to the officers. Good support came from the rest of the cast Oliver Jacques, Martin Donaldson, Ben Wellicome, Chris Stanford and John Francis. Short bursts of comedy came from Paul Sully as cook Private Mason always busy making tea and serving the whiskey!

The set looked simple but effective until the last few seconds of this play, then you realise how complex and effective it was. All credit to the set builders and also to the lighting and sound team was excelled.

This was a very powerful play with many strong performances. 

Well done to director Steve Smith and to the cast.

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