Accrington Pals

Uploaded by: gary4857
Video Description:
Excerpt from Ormskirk Theatre Company's theatrical production of Peter Whelan's The Accrington Pals, November 2007; including a video sequence shown as the men "went over the top"

Tags for this video: Accrington Amateur Amdram Company Dramatics Ormskirk Pals Peter Theatre Whelan

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words cannot convey ... ( 10 months ago by brayshot37)

words cannot convey how this makes me feel

Thanks for the ... ( 10 months ago by gary4857)

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.

Brave young ... ( 10 months ago by xyzkerry)

Brave young Englishmen wasted by pathetic Generals who only knew one 'tactic'.
Thanks for keeping their memory alive.

Sadly, I agree. The ... ( 10 months ago by gary4857)

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.

I was in a ... ( 10 months ago by BenBanjo87)

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 ... ( 10 months ago by gary4857)

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 ... ( 10 months ago by BenBanjo87)

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.

I have just visited ... ( 8 months ago by seamonkey41)

I have just visited the memorial at sheffield park somme france, thanks for this tribute

I've just started ... ( 4 months ago by totallybaffled)

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, ... ( 4 months ago by gary4857)

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?

We're performing at ... ( 4 months ago by totallybaffled)

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.

Good luck with the ... ( 3 months ago by gary4857)

Good luck with the production! Hope all goes well.

If you haven't ... ( 3 months ago by gary4857)

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.

Never forget ( 3 weeks ago by Boingy72)

Never forget

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