The Accrington Pals
by
Peter Whelan
directed
by Keith Jones
| This moving
and powerful play takes its title from the seven hundred strong battalion from Accrington, Lancs, which marched
off optimistically to join Kitchener's New Army and was
decimated at the battle of the Somme in 1916. Glimpses are given of the life at the front but the play's dramatic power lies in the linking of the public event to the private lives of the working class wives, daughters and lovers who were left behind, living on hope and official misinformation about what was actually happening to the 'Pals' in France. The play explores a whole range of emotions, humorous in parts, poignant in others but above all an experience which will provoke discussion long after the final shot has been fired and the stage is finally darkened. 'The Accrington Pals' was first staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at their Warehouse Theatre in London in April 1981. |
Cast |
|
| Tom Hackford | Keith Rylands-Bolton |
| May Hassal | Joy Walker |
| Arthur Boggis | Austin Chater |
| Reggie Boggis | Nigel Dring |
| Ralph | Chas Barker |
| Eva Mason | Jeni Grant |
| Annie Boggis | Sheila Buckthorp |
| Sarah Harding | Mary Chapman |
| Bertha Treecott | Sarah Roberts |
| CSM Rivers | Greg Platt |
Crew |
|
| Stage Manager | Angela Chater |
| Sound | Chic Ross |
| Lighting Set | Bentley Hughes, Damon Albarn |
| Lights Operation | Graham Davidson |
| Set Painting | Nigel Dring |
| Kitchen Range and Stall manufactured by | Douglas Ballard |
| Box Office | Jane Nutting |
| Coffee | M Stanney, M Johnson and Vi Davies |