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JOURNEY’S END

by R.C. Sherriff

IoW-based professional theatre company Theatre Reviva! toured its NEW immersive, gripping, theatre production in November 2021 to coincide with Poppy Day and Remembrance Sunday

 

A fresh revival of Journey’s End by Theatre Reviva! for 2022

R.C. Sherriff’s anti-war classic JOURNEY’S END is an amazing play.

Set in an extraordinarily realistic frontline dug-out during the First World War, the story plays out over four days in March 1918, as five British Officers wait for an upcoming attack.

Full of beautifully observed humanity and understated heroism, R.C.Sherriff drew on his own personal experiences in the trenches whilst a Captain in the East Surrey Regiment.  The first-hand authenticity, told through a funny, exciting, shocking and poignant script has kept the play, and subsequent films, a triumph for a full 90 years.

“No other British play about the Great War by a veteran, has ever topped it” declares IoW resident Director, Graham Pountney.  “We are delighted to bring this amazing production to the Island, after Covid postponed it over a year ago!  It’s also very fitting in the lead-up to Remembrance week and Poppy Day.”

The production commemorates the end of the Great War and recalls the sacrifices of those who never returned.  It’s especially poignant now, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. Lest we forget.

With this production Theatre Reviva! is helping two veterans’ charities – the RBL Poppy Appeal and SSAFA – to raise funds and awareness of their veterans’ families welfare work.

Audience Quotes

‘We left the theatre so stunned by what we had witnessed, my wife and I hardly spoke on the drive home.  Magnificently performed by the cast: tragic, poignant and heart-rending were just some of the words that eventually came to mind.  I’d recommend it to anyone.’
GA

‘Absolutely amazing performance. Blown away by the ending. So moving and poignant. Wow!!’
A Pickering’

‘An extremely moving production and performance from a highly talented company’
Prof. A Bowman

To see all of the comments: Click here

In November 2021 we revived Journey’s End to celebrate Armistice Day (Poppy Day) in the new Esher Theatre, in Surrey.

JOURNEY’S END

by R.C. Sherriff

An extraordinary, gripping production of a great anti-war classic, full of beautifully observed humanity: Set in the trenches during the First World War, this story plays out in a dugout over four days, from 18th March to 21st March 1918, during the run-up to the last major German offensive of the War.

Click to watch the video trailer!

About Journey’s End

Five British officers are preparing apprehensively for the upcoming attack. Raleigh, an eighteen-year-old officer fresh out of English public school, joins the company of his friend and cricketing hero Captain Stanhope and finds him dramatically changed. Osborne, the 2nd in command, is a middle-aged public school teacher and father figure. Trotter, who has worked his way up through the ranks, has a drily humorous response to the officers’ situation, whilst Hibbert reveals a ‘less than British’ attitude to their predicament.

Read more…

About RC Sherriff

R. C. Sherriff was born on 6th June 1896 in Hampton Wick. He was educated at Kingston Grammar School from 1905-1913 and considered going up to Oxford but decided he could not afford to, and instead began employment at the Sun Insurance Company, where his father and grandfather had worked.

Read more…

Production Photos 2021

Production Photos 2018

We’re part of the inaugural season of the newly restored Esher Theatre; a stage where RC Sherriff himself trod the boards.

We also helped to raise funds for SSAFA and the RBL.

In the summer of 2021 we teamed up with Close Quarter Productions to present:

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Three Comedy-Dramas by Giles Cole

The Weatherman – Still Dancers – An Occasional Cup of Tea

Directed by Graham Pountney with Hilary Townley, Nicholas Day, Catharine Humphrys and Graham Pountney

Nominated for Outstanding Theatre Award, Brighton Fringe 2021

Left to Right: Catharine Humphrys, Graham Pountney, Nick Day and Hilary Townley

A Comedy-Drama, direct from the Brighton Fringe Festival 2021.

“Delightful vignettes of reminiscences and regrets, forgetfulness and the future.”

Richard Bect, Broadway Baby

This three-act Chekhovian elegy for the dance of age is in a league of its own. A superb play, it should be, as one director present said, in the West End. Some of the finest acting I’ve seen at the Fringe.”

Simon Jenner, Fringe Review

A delicious chance to enjoy three linked short plays – where time has a habit of taking its revenges… and having the last laugh!

Chuckles, belly-laughs, whimsy, pathos and shocks – not to mention the revival of The Weatherman – last seen hilariously in 2019!

Keep an eye out for squalls of laughter when we meet the wives!

After All These Years is a trim three-act comedy play developed from the acclaimed one-act comedy The Weatherman.

Alf and Joan, Charlie and Marianne are two former showbiz couples whose later years leave much to be desired. Time takes its revenges. Secrets will out.

And just how well do they know each other after all these years?

In 2019, under the title
Summer Love we presented a lively selection of three short plays.

Click on the linked titles above to see a taster video clip of each play.

There were two very special ones by Anthony Minghella, (writer/director of the film The English Patient):   Hang Up a captivating two-hander between two long-distant lovers and Days Like Thesea riveting monologue of reminiscence.  The third play was The Weatherman by new writer Giles Cole; a laugh-out-loud contemplation of love in the third age!  Graham Pountney directed a wonderfully focused evening,  featuring Virginia Stride, Rupert Bates, Alex Mircica and Pamela Donald.