I've been given the part of Annie in Accrington Pals but haven't yet been told much about my character. Do you have any information on her I might be able to use to prepare?
@warningtothecurious The way we looked at the part was that Annie had fallen pregnant and was taken in by Arthur. As the one with a child, she above all others would have had the most to lose by losing the breadwinner in the family. As the one with a child born out of wedlock, Annie always feels as if the others are looking down on her. Taking these things into consideration, it makes her 'I shall eat stones' speech all the more poignant. Hope that helps!
Can I just say, I'm a foreigner , I live in Ossy two minutes off but accrington still remembers their dead. It's really changed now but the accrington pals will ALWAYS be remembered. It's a shocking piece of history that should be taught to everyone.
We're performing at The Carriageworks in Leeds from 24th to 27th September (Tiny House Productions). It's going to be staged in the upstairs studio, rather than a large stage, so it will feel very up 'close'. I'm really excited about it, I think it will be done well.
If you haven't already contacted them, the staff at Accrington Library are well worth a call or e-mail. For a small fee, they will provide you with an a copy of the Accrington Observer which can be used during the production, together with a guide to the price of fruit and veg at the stall in 1915! The library also have a collection of programmes from previous productions.
That's brilliant! I know for our photographs, we're heading to Accrington and we're visiting the church where soldiers carved their names (I think?). I'll definitely let our Director know about the paper and the library though - could come in very handy! Thank you. Rehearsals are going really well - looking forward to the show even more now.
I've just started rehearsals for this, playing Sarah. I hadn't read past where my character ends the first time I got the script, but when I did, I was so moved by the writing. I'd never heard of the Pals before, but have since bought a tribute book to the originals. Such a sad, sad occasion, but a brilliant play in order to keep the memory alive.
It's a great play, and very moving. Reading it on the page, it sometimes seems a bit verbose but on stage, completely captivating. When and where are you staging it?
I was in a production of this about two months ago. I never saw this scene from an audience perspective, but I could still feel the emotion as the whistles sounded.
It's a very emotive scene. I wasn't sure about adding in the film footage, which was shown above the "bodies" of Rivers, Tom, Arthur and Ralph after they had died, but the music was so emotive that we went with it. Above the screen, there was a small resceptacle containing poppy petals which were released as the film played. You could hear a pin drop. Where did you perform the play? It seems to be played quite rarely these days, sadly.
It was with the University of Sheffield Theatre Company. We didn't have the bodies left onstage - all we did was to rise up on the whistle, have some shouting from everyone, and then get off the stage in a blackout. You're right - it does seem undiscovered for such a good play. It's easily as good as Journey's End, if not better.
Sadly, I agree. The Pals were exhausted by the time they went over the top, having spent most of the previous night marching to the front line. And the decision to send them over in broad daylight beggars belief. Incredible though the story of the Pals seems now, it could all so easily happen again. To me, that's why remembrance is so important.
Thanks for the comment. I know what you mean: we spent three months preparing for the production and the last performance took place on November 10. The next morning, Remembrance Sunday, we began dismantling the set and clearing up the Civic Hall in Ormskirk where we had performed. At 11 o'clock, everything stopped and we stood wherever we were for 2 minutes silence. I am not ashamed to say that I cried, and I was not alone amongst the theatre company.
I've been given the part of Annie in Accrington Pals but haven't yet been told much about my character. Do you have any information on her I might be able to use to prepare?
warningtothecurious 7 months ago
@warningtothecurious The way we looked at the part was that Annie had fallen pregnant and was taken in by Arthur. As the one with a child, she above all others would have had the most to lose by losing the breadwinner in the family. As the one with a child born out of wedlock, Annie always feels as if the others are looking down on her. Taking these things into consideration, it makes her 'I shall eat stones' speech all the more poignant. Hope that helps!
gary4857 7 months ago
My Great Grandfather was a member of the Accrington Pals.
He was one of the lucky ones who survived the war.
gavmrgav 8 months ago
Can I just say, I'm a foreigner , I live in Ossy two minutes off but accrington still remembers their dead. It's really changed now but the accrington pals will ALWAYS be remembered. It's a shocking piece of history that should be taught to everyone.
TheNorseLegend 11 months ago
How did the audition go?
gary4857 1 year ago
I'm doing an audition for the accrington pals play for annie
DaintyL5 1 year ago
Would love to see the production some time. Powerful clip. Thanks for posting.
dalesman4 2 years ago
Never forget
Boingy72 3 years ago
We're performing at The Carriageworks in Leeds from 24th to 27th September (Tiny House Productions). It's going to be staged in the upstairs studio, rather than a large stage, so it will feel very up 'close'. I'm really excited about it, I think it will be done well.
totallybaffled 3 years ago
Good luck with the production! Hope all goes well.
gary4857 3 years ago
If you haven't already contacted them, the staff at Accrington Library are well worth a call or e-mail. For a small fee, they will provide you with an a copy of the Accrington Observer which can be used during the production, together with a guide to the price of fruit and veg at the stall in 1915! The library also have a collection of programmes from previous productions.
gary4857 3 years ago
That's brilliant! I know for our photographs, we're heading to Accrington and we're visiting the church where soldiers carved their names (I think?). I'll definitely let our Director know about the paper and the library though - could come in very handy! Thank you. Rehearsals are going really well - looking forward to the show even more now.
totallybaffled 3 years ago
I've just started rehearsals for this, playing Sarah. I hadn't read past where my character ends the first time I got the script, but when I did, I was so moved by the writing. I'd never heard of the Pals before, but have since bought a tribute book to the originals. Such a sad, sad occasion, but a brilliant play in order to keep the memory alive.
totallybaffled 3 years ago
It's a great play, and very moving. Reading it on the page, it sometimes seems a bit verbose but on stage, completely captivating. When and where are you staging it?
gary4857 3 years ago
I have just visited the memorial at sheffield park somme france, thanks for this tribute
seamonkey41 4 years ago
I was in a production of this about two months ago. I never saw this scene from an audience perspective, but I could still feel the emotion as the whistles sounded.
BenBanjo87 4 years ago
It's a very emotive scene. I wasn't sure about adding in the film footage, which was shown above the "bodies" of Rivers, Tom, Arthur and Ralph after they had died, but the music was so emotive that we went with it. Above the screen, there was a small resceptacle containing poppy petals which were released as the film played. You could hear a pin drop. Where did you perform the play? It seems to be played quite rarely these days, sadly.
gary4857 4 years ago
It was with the University of Sheffield Theatre Company. We didn't have the bodies left onstage - all we did was to rise up on the whistle, have some shouting from everyone, and then get off the stage in a blackout. You're right - it does seem undiscovered for such a good play. It's easily as good as Journey's End, if not better.
BenBanjo87 4 years ago
Brave young Englishmen wasted by pathetic Generals who only knew one 'tactic'.
Thanks for keeping their memory alive.
xyzkerry 4 years ago
Sadly, I agree. The Pals were exhausted by the time they went over the top, having spent most of the previous night marching to the front line. And the decision to send them over in broad daylight beggars belief. Incredible though the story of the Pals seems now, it could all so easily happen again. To me, that's why remembrance is so important.
gary4857 4 years ago
words cannot convey how this makes me feel
brayshot37 4 years ago
Thanks for the comment. I know what you mean: we spent three months preparing for the production and the last performance took place on November 10. The next morning, Remembrance Sunday, we began dismantling the set and clearing up the Civic Hall in Ormskirk where we had performed. At 11 o'clock, everything stopped and we stood wherever we were for 2 minutes silence. I am not ashamed to say that I cried, and I was not alone amongst the theatre company.
gary4857 4 years ago