Durham’s Gala Theatre begins its autumn 2016 season with The Fighting Bradfords, a new World War I play about a County Durham family, brothers Thomas, George, James and Roland Bradford.
Thomas, the only one of the brothers to survive the War, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry during the second Battle of Ypres, one of only twenty to survive that battle. George was awarded a posthumous VC for his “absolute self-sacrifice” after he was killed as he leapt into enemy fire in order to anchor his ship, enabling his crew to escape.
James was awarded the Military Cross for leading his men into an enemy trench, personally killing three Germans, capturing many prisoners and taking out two machine guns. Roland, the youngest, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his “conspicuous bravery and good leadership” and was promoted to Brigadier-General aged 25, the youngest in British Army history.
The Fighting Bradfords is written by Tyneside playwright Carina Rodney (The Big Marrow, Canned and Pub Quiz) and directed by Psyche Stott (Blue Remembered Hills and Pub Quiz). The play draws on first-hand accounts, correspondence and family anecdotes to tell the story of the Witton Park (near Bishop Auckland) soldiers.
This will be the first in-house production (apart from panto and stage school shows) at the Gala for six years and appropriately will feature a cast composed entirely of North East actors: Jamie Brown (James), Micky Cochrane (George), Chris Connel (Thomas) and Justin McDonald (Roland) who are joined by Jessica Johnson playing James’s wife Nancy and the Bradfords' sister Amy.
The Fighting Bradfords runs from 8 to 17 September. There will be a Pay What You Like performance on Monday 12 September, available by 'phone or in-person booking only.