Oh What A Lovely War - Southwark Playhouse Borough / Tour

[Dave B]

southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/oh-what-a-lovely-war/

[theatrefan62]

It will also tour the UK after the Southwark run

[oxfordsimon]

Touring after as well I believe

[alece10]

I saw an anniversary version of this a few years ago at Stratford East Theatre. It was excellent.

[Being Alive]

Touring before as well!

[stevej678]

Nice to get a tour for this as well as the London dates. Booked for Waterside Arts Centre in Sale, somewhere I've never been before, in the week before the start of the Southwark run.

[oxfordsimon]

If the cast on the website is the full list, this will be a very small affair.

[Being Alive]

Jul 11, 2023 15:32:47 GMT oxfordsimon said:

If the cast on the website is the full list, this will be a very small affair.

They usually are a cast of 6, some double casting, but they're a really great company who I've seen lots of productions from.

[Someone in a tree]

One of those pieces I've always wanted to see and never have done.

Looking on Blackeyed website they have staged it twice before. They also look like they have done some quite innovative productions aswell - hurrah!

[marob]

One of many landmark shows I’ve never seen, so will definitely book for Theatr Clwyd next year. Not a lot of interest on there ATM, so nice to look forward to this.

[showgirl]

Seems very odd for Southwark Playhouse both to programme a touring production and when tour dates have already been announced and booking has opened; wonder why?

This will make me a little wary in future as I'd already booked for a matinee during the tour week in Guildford, which of course limited my choice to 2 performances as usual, whereas had I known it'd be at SP, I'd have held off as cheaper and a far greater date range. I still want to see the show, which I've never before had an opportunity to do, but it'd be interesting to know if this marks a new policy for SP.

[willjam39]

We have had this company come through our theatre a few times and their productions are very well done with good values in set and costume.

[zahidf]

Jul 12, 2023 3:59:25 GMT showgirl said:

Seems very odd for Southwark Playhouse both to programme a touring production and when tour dates have already been announced and booking has opened; wonder why?

This will make me a little wary in future as I'd already booked for a matinee during the tour week in Guildford, which of course limited my choice to 2 performances as usual, whereas had I known it'd be at SP, I'd have held off as cheaper and a far greater date range. I still want to see the show, which I've never before had an opportunity to do, but it'd be interesting to know if this marks a new policy for SP.

I guess they had something fall through and the dates match up

[Someone in a tree]

Jul 12, 2023 3:59:25 GMT showgirl said:

Seems very odd for Southwark Playhouse both to programme a touring production and when tour dates have already been announced and booking has opened; wonder why?

This will make me a little wary in future as I'd already booked for a matinee during the tour week in Guildford, which of course limited my choice to 2 performances as usual, whereas had I known it'd be at SP, I'd have held off as cheaper and a far greater date range. I still want to see the show, which I've never before had an opportunity to do, but it'd be interesting to know if this marks a new policy for SP.

Could you get a credit note for Guildrford?

[stevej678]

Jul 12, 2023 3:59:25 GMT showgirl said:

Seems very odd for Southwark Playhouse both to programme a touring production and when tour dates have already been announced and booking has opened; wonder why?

This will make me a little wary in future as I'd already booked for a matinee during the tour week in Guildford, which of course limited my choice to 2 performances as usual, whereas had I known it'd be at SP, I'd have held off as cheaper and a far greater date range. I still want to see the show, which I've never before had an opportunity to do, but it'd be interesting to know if this marks a new policy for SP.

Not sure why it's odd? Lizzie is also touring, as is Stranger Sings, around dates at Southwark Playhouse.

[nicolaa]

Jul 11, 2023 15:38:24 GMT Being Alive said:

Jul 11, 2023 15:32:47 GMT oxfordsimon said:

If the cast on the website is the full list, this will be a very small affair.

They usually are a cast of 6, some double casting, but they're a really great company who I've seen lots of productions from.

Last time I saw OWALW there was a cast of 12 and a lot of doubling up - hope they've hired six fit actors!!

[oxfordsimon]

Jul 12, 2023 16:21:14 GMT nicolaa said:

Jul 11, 2023 15:38:24 GMT Being Alive said:

They usually are a cast of 6, some double casting, but they're a really great company who I've seen lots of productions from.

Last time I saw OWALW there was a cast of 12 and a lot of doubling up - hope they've hired six fit actors!!

It is another of the pieces on my to do list and I would want a cast of 16 to 20. More if the budget allowed.

Certain sequences will feel sparse such as the Christmas in the Trenches with just 3 on each side

Am sure it will all have been thought through. Just not a way of approaching the piece that appeals to me

[tmesis]

I saw this last night at my local arts centre (South Hill Park, Bracknell) and was distinctly unimpressed. It was an actor/musician presentation of the worst sort. Am dram acting, shoddy singing (with some excruciating harmonies in ensemble) and poor instrumental playing, particularly on brass and reeds. Also the satirical elements of the original didn’t really hit home. The dialogue was gabbled in the funnier bits and the poignant moments failed to register as they should.

I saw the Theatre Royal Stratford East production of a decade ago, with Caroline Quentin in it, which was really excellent and in a different league to this.

Last night was the first performance. Maybe they’ll improve.

[partytentdown]

This may be me being terribly anal but the title of this play is 'Oh! What a Lovely War' with an exclamation mark after the 'Oh' - it really bugs me that this production has completely ignored that on all their publicity.

[Dave B]

We saw the first preview at Southwark last night.

The cast of six are kept busy! High energy all around with them essentially having already started when the doors open, sitting in the audience, bantering with each other and various audience members (light, no participation required). A little bit more of that during the interval making it a very long night!

Overall, we enjoyed it. There are moments of brilliance - Harry Curley's drill sergeant is just spectacular. The cast are all good - and I don't mean this as a put down because I thought it worked well - they slightly feel like jack of all trades rather than master of one. Even I could tell the singing was not always brilliant but when combined with the comedy and acting and dodgy accents (some meant to be dodgy, some not so much), and the playing of music, I thought everyone was good overall. Everyone gets a moment too and actually, I could pick out all six and highlight their own moment of brilliance.


The projections are of very mixed effect, the words are easy to read and hit hard but the image projections on curtains are hard to make out and don't quite have the impact, when the two work together, the impact is fairly muted. It didn’t have the emotional impact that I think it was aiming for, a straightforward projection onto a blank screen/wall would have helped a lot. Quite a few jokes linger a little too long, it could run at least 15 minutes shorter with gags just needing a little less repeating or a little less holding.


If this was just the first night and hadn’t been touring I’d expect it to settle down a little and end up around the four stars but given it’s been going for a while, I’m going to settle for 3 ½ stars.

[capybara]

I think I enjoyed this when I saw it on Thursday. It certainly was quite affecting but I say that as somebody who has never encountered previous productions of this show.

It’s not a typical musical, nor can it truly be considered a straight play. If you were looking for a label, a ‘play with music’ would be most appropriate.

But while its meaning and emotion irrefutably stand the test of time, there are some parts of the book which seem a touch frantic in a modern setting. Rather than relying on a character-led plot, this is essentially a collection of connected scenes which, for the most part, works but can become laboured and bogged down in its own subversiveness at times.

This is a remarkably talented group of performers who have been entrusted with this revered work. Harry Culley is a star in the making and his natural ability as a character actor is a joy to see. When he is feverishly lampooning the establishment, it is spellbinding. With the cast wearing circus-style make-up, his tone and movement gives Emcee vibes on occasion.

The company, made up of six actor-musos, works hard to ensure there is no let-up in pace. Alice E Mayer is wonderful from the first moment she saunters across the stage; as the show progresses, we see there are so many layers to her talents. Chioma Uma is also certainly worthy of mention for her moving rendition of ‘Keep The Home Fires Burning’ during Act Two.

The strength of Oh What a Lovely War is its juxtaposition between the light heartedness, often through the songs of the First World War era, and the raw horror of trench warfare.

Oh What a Lovely War can be sharply witty in its mockery of privately-educated establishment figures of the time, before nimbly shifting to become harrowing or deeply moving. But it’s not perfect and some of the skits can be guilty of outstaying their welcome.

Three stars.

[zahidf]

This was more a play with songs than a musical per se

Was fun overall. Some moving scenes, some funny scenes, some which were out of date

[pws]

Saw this last night and really enjoyed it. The cast were brilliant and it zipped along.
It is a period piece, I suppose, but it still hits home and was been a highlight of the year for us.
Do see it if you can.

[Someone in a tree]

I was at last night’s performance which due to illness was labelled as a concert and lasted just over an hour*. Wow. What an amazing concert! The cast of 5 acted, sung and played their socks off.

I don’t know the piece so I can’t comment on what was cut but the Christmas trench scene was hauntingly beautiful as was Keep the home fires burning. Loved the drill Sargent and the date when all wars will be settled landed like a kick in the teeth, especially as last yesterday was Hanukah.

My friend complained about the quality of music making but I thought this was a strength. This piece shouldn’t sound nice.

Top marks from me.



*Southwark offered options of a ticket transfer, full refund or see the concert for half price – amazing customer service.