Oh! What A Lovely War

The note from the creatives in my programme stated that Joan Littlewood’s play is a ‘theatrical masterpiece’ and I was very much looking forward to seeing something I had not seen before.

Union Theatre never fail to amaze me when putting on their productions in the church, with limited staging space for elaborate scenery and special effects and lighting its always so much more about the actual performances, the superb acting and credible characterisations. Costume and elaborate makeup played a major part in this production. There was also a large projection screen stage right where detailed news flashes and shocking facts (some of which I felt compelled to make note of) were shared including a timeline of the WAR GAMES.

The cast of fifteen took on the numerous different characters with goodness knows how many costume changes for some! Their distinctive stylised Pierrot makeup was one of the only reminders of who was who. The cast members as listed were Alex Butler, Emma Davie,  Victoria Ellery-Jones, Mark Firmstone, Kate Gilbert, Ellie Hare, Rosie Jewell, Gail Kirby, Julie Moore, Belinda Piasecki, Jemma Reid, Gemma Queenborough, Julie Queenborough, Marcus Queenborough and Daniel ‘Squirrel’ Wilde.

I made note of just a few of my memories /thoughts that will only mean something to those in the audience, performers in the cast and anyone who lived and survived to tell the truth.

Sarajevo and Archduke Ferdinand, Extra extra.

Kate and Vikki, we want you and need you.

The Germans held at Liege -Alex, Gemma and Marcus.

Julie and Rosies duologue.

Drill Sargent Alex, the women of Britain say GO!

Trench warfare.

Impressive flags, hats and guns.

Irish times, Roses are blooming in Picardy (Rosie & Marcus)

Easter 1916 Rebellion in Ireland.

2.5 million dead on the Western Front.

A Capella  When The nightingale sang

Gail with her fiddle, Irish Jig.

Votes for women

8,000 Germans starved to death through the British Barricade.

I don’t want to be a soldier.

Kate, Keep the home fires burning

Average life of a machine gunner under attack 4 mins.

Looking through my copious notes I have many more. However, we left the Church that evening and couldn’t stop talking about what an emotional thought provoking play we had just witnessed, a few of the ladies sitting in front of us joined in with the well-known songs.

Congratulations to all, what a talented group of performers you are.  

Exactly 110 years have passed since World War 1 and as the programme reminds us ,no matter how many years pass, we still live in a world of conflict.

 

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