Northern Broadsides and Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic Theatre are to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War with the world première of Deborah McAndrew’s new play An August Bank Holiday Lark.
The play takes its title from a line in Philip Larkin’s poem MCMXIV and explores the impact of the war on a rural community in East Lancashire.
It’s set in the summer of 1914 and everyone in the community is excited about Wakes week.
The play follows the stories of the people of the village and witnesses their personal transitions from exuberance to naivety as they deal with their loss with courage and humanity.
Deborah McAndrew says, “An August Bank Holiday Lark focuses on one small community and the often overlooked British involvement on the Eastern Front.
“Countless Lancashire lads exchanged the soft Pennine drizzle for the searing Turkish sun and gave their lives at the August offensive in Gallipoli.
“The play never leaves the fictional village of Greenmill but remembers the fallen and wounded—and those for whom the war was over long before the guns were finally silenced.”
The play is directed by and features Northern Broadsides’ artistic director Barrie Rutter.
The rest of the cast features Ben Burman, Emily Butterfield, Elizabeth Eves, Sophia Hatfield, Darren Kuppan, Brett Lee Roberts, Jack Quarton, Lauryn Redding, Russell Richardson, Mark Thomas and Andrew Whitehead.
The creative team includes designer Lis Evans while lighting is by Mark Howland.
An August Bank Holiday Lark runs at the New Vic from Friday (7 February) until Saturday 1 March before going on a national tour until 14 June.