THE story of the First World War through songs and parodies composed by soldiers themselves will be told by Wycliffe Drama Group.
Described as a powerful satire of the events of the Great War, director Richard Hill has assembled a large and experienced cast for his version Oh, What A Lovely War which run at Lutterworth College from October 1 to 4.
The BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning show has become a modern classic following its first production in 1963 while a film version followed six years later directed by Richard Attenborough featuring a stellar cast including the likes of Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, John Mills, Maggie Smith and Dirk Bogarde.
Much of the dialogue in the show is taken from contemporary chronicles or letters and all the lyrics are those sung by soldiers in the trenches to popular tunes of that time.
They became so popular in their own right that they were published as Tommy Tunes and included Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, Roses of Picardy and Keep the home fires burning.
AJP Taylor, Britain’s most celebrated historian, once said of the show: “It does what historians have failed to do in showing what war is all about.”
Rehearsals have begun for Wycliffe’s Drama Group’s version of what is considered as an entertaining and engaging tribute to those who fought in the war which forms part of the ongoing commemorations of the centenary of the outbreak of war in 1914.
Tickets are priced at £10, with concessions at £8, from Aspects on Church Street in Lutterworth or by calling 07913 880663.
www.wycliffedramagroup.co.uk
