The Accrington Pals (2015)
by Peter Whelan
Directed by Lisa Thomas
Performances: Tues 7th - Sat 11th July 2015, Bell Theatre
Contents
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 - Ali 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 - Adam Crook
- Scenic Artists - Hazel Hindle & Carole Ironside
- Lighting and Sound Design - Bob Callender
- Lighting & Sound Operation - Kathryn Ramsay
- Military Uniforms & Props - Khaki Devil & Kait Feeney
- Props - Alan Buckman
- Poster & Programme Design - Bryon Fear
Reviews
Gallery
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
We received this lovely note from Megan, Peter Whelan's daughter:
Break a leg tonight! If my father were still with us you would have had a beautifully hand made good luck card probably featuring a pun of some sort which I had intended to emulate but as ever time got away from me so I am afraid this message will have to stand in for it. Dad would have been delighted that SLT was doing Accrington Pals as he had a strong feeling for the theatre from the times he visited during The Earthly Paradise and The Pals is a very personal piece. He is being awarded a posthumous honorary doctorate this week in Stoke on Trent and the whole Whelan family is going for a few nights so I am afraid we can't do the group visit we had hoped for but I am hoping to be there on Saturday for the last night to represent (M6 permitting). Up the Pals! Megan (nee Whelan) x
See Also
References
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