Oh What a Lovely War (2012)

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Poster by Lisa Thomas

by Theatre Workshop, Charles Chilton and the original cast - Based on the radio play by Charles Chilton

Directed by Lisa Thomas

Performances: 8pm, Tue 4th – Sat 8th of September 2012, Bell Theatre


Introduction

In 1963 the groundbreaking Theatre Workshop, led by Joan Littlewood, presented the history of the First World War through the medium of an end of the pier show with sketches, dances and well-known songs of the period. In the background a slideshow and tickertape revealed the devastating cost of the war in sharp counterpoint to the light-hearted antics on stage. The show has become a classic, endlessly performed and yet always with something new to reveal to its audience.

The show was last performed at SLT in 1979 using Littlewood’s original concept of a pierrot show. Our theatre troupe is somewhat more eclectic but you’ll still enjoy a multiplicity of characters, extraordinary accents and even more extraordinary moustaches created by a small but talented ensemble cast who play up to 19 roles each from newsboy to the Kaiser and Sir Douglas Haig.

There's music, dancing, a few jokes, some battles and a show that enchants its audience with song at the same time as it reduces it to tears.

From Lisa Thomas's programme notes.

This production has been a testament to the joys of playing ensemble and the range and talent of the actors involved. I reckon that a troupe of just ten good men and women are playing in the region of 140 roles between them - in some cases 20 each. It has been a huge pleasure and a privilege to work with all of them. we hope you enjoy the show.

In memory of Zara (Thomas) Gough (1965-2012) who was so looking forward to seeing the show.

Cast

Ensemble

  • Matthew Lyne Voice • Moltke • Stallholder • Drill sergeant • Lanzerac • Sergeant • 5th soldier (Trench) • Ghillie • Sir Douglas Haig • 3rd man • French soldier
  • Christopher Vian-Smith Germany (War Game 1) • Kaiser • Sir John French• 2nd officer (wounded) • 4th soldier (Trench) • Singer • 2nd man • 1st soldier • Landru • 2nd Pierrot • French soldier
  • Chaz Doyle Johnny Jones • France (War Game 1) • Serbian secret policeman • Announcer • French cavalry • German officer • Young recruit • French's driver • Hitchy Koo dancer • 3rd soldier (Trench) • America (War Game 2) • Commanding officer • Rawlinson • 2nd officer • Irish sergeant • Gendarme • 1st Pierrot • French soldier
  • Peter Stevens MC • Austro-Hungarian secret policeman • German businessman • Luxembourg soldier • French cavalry • Young recruit • French aide (translator) • 1st soldier (wounded) • 2nd soldier (trench) • Lieutenant • 2nd Irish soldier • Aussie voice • Runner • 2nd soldier • Junior officer • Chaplain • French officer •
  • Neil Forster Russian (War Game 1) • British admiral • Newsboy • German businessman • English soldier • French cavalry • French officer • Young recruit • Sir Henry Wilson • 2nd soldier (wounded) • 1st soldier (Trench) • France (War Game 2) • Sergeant • Junior officer • 1st Irish soldier • 1st man (Mrs P) • 2nd officer • French soldier
  • Dean Wicks British general • Newsboy • Turkey (in Kibosh) • Young recruit • Moranville • George (wounded) • 6th soldier (trench) • Switzerland (War Game 2) • Soldier • Sir William Robertson • British general • Medical officer
  • Helen Chadney Britain (War Game 1) • Announcer • Singer • Nurse • German soldier • Britain (War Game 2) • Lady Haig • 2nd woman (Mrs P) • 2nd German woman • 2nd Lancashire lass
  • Catriona Laing Russia • Lady walking • Dancer • Kibosh girl • German soldier • Girl • Beater • Lady Myfanwy • Mrs Pankhurst • 2nd English woman • Body • 3rd Lancashire lass
  • Chloe Beecham Ireland (War Game 1) • Lady walking • Girl • German herald • Nurse • German soldier • Girl • Beater • Lady Fanny • 1st German woman • Nurse
  • Laura Yandell France (1st War Game) • Lady • Girl • Englishwoman • Newsgirl • Hitchy Koo girl • German soldier • Girl • Beater • Lady Ann • 1st woman (Mrs Pankhurst) • 1st English woman • 1st Lancashire lass

Band

Crew

The cast and crew would like to thank the following people and organisations who have helped with this show: The Park for rehearsal space; bar and box office staff; Theatre Committee and rep. Dave Hollander; cast and crews of Henry and Alice, Jeffrey and the New Writing Double Bill and Stephen at Sabre Sales in Southsea. Chris, Dave, Gerard , Catherine for all their very hard work on the music.

Reviews

Some review quotes go here


Gallery


Reminiscences and Anecdotes

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.

Favourite lines: 'Canter in the row tomorrow before breakfast, Doris.' 'Don't shoot, it's us. There's human beings over here.' 'We're going down the line.'

Notes: The bizarre dance performed during 'I wore a tunic' is called 'The Grizzly Bear' and was all the rage during the wartime period as were a number of other animal dances.

Thanks once again to Sabre Sales in Southsea who have allowed the director to indulge her fetish for uniforms and have provided among other things jackets for Sir John French and Sir Douglas Haig, the Kaiser's helmet, a Glengarry, a boy scout hat and a tar's hat of the period. The mistakes, anomalies and inaccuracies are ours, not theirs.

The puppy has also appeared in Schweyk in the Second World War and in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.

See Also

Oh, What a Lovely War (1979)

References

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External Links

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