The Accrington Pals (2015)

Poster by Bryon Fear

by Peter Whelan

Directed by Lisa Thomas

Performances: Tues 7th - Sat 11th July 2015, Bell Theatre

Introduction

In 1916 the British Army, running out of cannon fodder for the trenches, introduced a policy of recruitment based on enticing men into the army from the same towns. Lord Mayors were encouraged to call for volunteers from the same towns and the famous Pals regiments were formed. Accrington, a small town in Lancaster, was the smallest town in England to field a full battalion of a thousand men. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme "the Pals" were in the front line that walked towards the German trenches believing the generals' promise that it would be a pushover. Contemporary accounts say that there was not a family in Accrington that had not lost a father, son or brother. One woman lost her husband and three sons. The effect on the town was so disastrous that the government dropped the policy almost immediately.

Cast

• Tom Hackford - Apatu Storey
• May Hassal - Alison Hulett
• Arthur Boggis - David Carr
• Annie Boggis - Audrey Lindsay
• Reggie Boggis - Louie Chapman
• Ralph - Owen Chidlaw
• Eva Mason - Laura Yandell
• Sarah Harding - Fiona Daffern
• Bertha Treecott - Elena Christie
• C.S.M. Rivers - Steve Anstee

Crew

• Assistant Director - Kait Feeney
• Stage Manager - [[]]
• Set Design - [[]]
• Set Construction - [[]]
• Lighting - [[]]
• Sound Design - [[]]

See Also

The Accrington Pals (1985)

References

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External Links

• This play on the web