Claybody Theatre is to present the world première of Song of the Sytch, Deborah McAndrew’s play about secrets and subversion in the Potteries during World War II.
It is set in September 1938. Neville Chamberlain has averted another catastrophic conflict in Europe but there isn’t much peace at The Pelican—a pub in a poor part of Burslem known as The Sytch.
While a male voice choir practises in the back room, dirty deals are done in the cellars beneath. As the world hurtles to the brink of war once more, a community finds it must pull together or fall apart.
Writer McAndrew said, “a couple of years ago, a resident brought me something they thought would interest me. It was a silver trophy for a music festival dated 1938. This poignant object that had lain in a cellar for more than 80 years instantly connected with a number of themes, characters and ideas that were floating around in my head. The result is a drama about a community facing a dark and uncertain future; universal stories inspired by the people and the musical heritage of Stoke-on-Trent.”
The cast comprises Polly Lister, Jack Quarton, Eddy Westbury, Thomas Cotran, Victoria Brazier and Alyce Liburd. It will be directed by Claybody co-founder Conrad Nelson with design by Dawn Allsopp, lighting by Jo Dawson and musical direction by Ashley Thompson. Assistant director is Tim van Eyken.
Claybody Theatre is a Stoke-based company whose work is inspired by the lives and experiences of Staffordshire people. Its adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s The Card premièred at Fenton Town Hall in June 2022 and was revived by the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme in May 2023.
Song of the Sytch will run at the Spode Works in Stoke from Wednesday 4 until Saturday 14 October.