The Accrington Pals (play)
Encyclopedia
The Accrington Pals is a fictional 1982 play by Peter Whelan
. It is based on the Accrington Pals
unit in the First World War and contrasts its life at the front and experiences in the 1916 Battle of the Somme with the women left behind in Accrington
.
.
i) May’s market stall
ii) Recruiting office
iii) May’s stall
iv) May’s kitchen
v) May’s kitchen (doubling as Tom’s watch post.)
vi) May’s kitchen
vii) May’s stall (doubling as Caernarvon)
viii) May’s stall
ix) May’s kitchen
x) May’s stall
xi) 'Sex shop'
Act 2
i) May’s kitchen/France
ii) May’s kitchen/France
iii) May’s kitchen
iv) The Somme front, France
v) Sarah’s backyard
vi) May’s kitchen
vii) May’s stall
viii) May’s stall
Peter Whelan
Peter Whelan is a British playwright.Whelan was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, England. His works includes seven plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the first of which was Captain Swing, in 1979...
. It is based on the Accrington Pals
Accrington Pals
The Accrington Pals was a British First World War Pals battalion of Kitchener's Army raised in and around the town of Accrington in Lancashire. When the battalion was taken over by the British Army it was officially named the 11th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment.Recruiting was initiated by...
unit in the First World War and contrasts its life at the front and experiences in the 1916 Battle of the Somme with the women left behind in Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
.
Production history
It was premiered at the Warehouse in London on 10 April 1981 by the Royal Shakespeare CompanyRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
.
Premiere cast and crew
- Janet Dale (May)
- Nicholas Gecks (Tom)
- Peter Chelsom (Ralph)
- Trudie StylerTrudie StylerTrudie Styler is an English actress and producer. She is the second wife of the musician Sting.-Life and career:Styler was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. She attended North Bromsgrove High School, where one of her teachers was Clifford T. Ward...
(Eva) - Sharon Bower (Sarah)
- Hilary Townley (Bertha)
- Brenda FrickerBrenda FrickerBrenda Fricker is an Irish actress of theatre, film and television. She had appeared in more than 30 films and television roles...
(Annie) - Andrew Jarvis (Arthur)
- Jack Marcus (Reggie)
- Bob PeckBob PeckBob Peck was an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:He went to Leeds Modern School in Lawnswood...
(C.S.M. Rivers) - Bill Alexander (Director)
- Kit Surrey (Design)
- Michael Calf (Lighting)
- John A. Leonard (Sound)
- Peter Washtell (Music arrangement)
Scenes
Act 1i) May’s market stall
ii) Recruiting office
iii) May’s stall
iv) May’s kitchen
v) May’s kitchen (doubling as Tom’s watch post.)
vi) May’s kitchen
vii) May’s stall (doubling as Caernarvon)
viii) May’s stall
ix) May’s kitchen
x) May’s stall
xi) 'Sex shop'
Act 2
i) May’s kitchen/France
ii) May’s kitchen/France
iii) May’s kitchen
iv) The Somme front, France
v) Sarah’s backyard
vi) May’s kitchen
vii) May’s stall
viii) May’s stall