Blackeyed Theatre will be returning to the Towngate Theatre this May, with their major revival of Oh What a Lovely War to mark the 60th anniversary of Joan Littlewood's epic anti-war musical.

A cornerstone of modern musical theatre and one of the very greatest stage satires, Oh What a Lovely War has been on tour nationally since September 2023 including a three-week run at Southwark Playhouse Borough.

Conceived and developed by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963, Oh What a Lovely War remains a classic of modern theatre, a fusion of timeless songs - including Pack Up Your Troubles and It's a Long Way to Tipperary - razor-sharp satire and high jinks, offering a satirical account of the First World War as seen through the eyes of the common soldier.

Wildly satirical, visually stunning, and deeply moving, the show is a hilarious, heart-breaking snapshot of life for those caught in the crossfire of conflict, a unanimous voice from the trenches and a timely warning from the theatre of war itself.

Now, more than ever, it holds a mirror up to the world.

Director Nicky Allpress commented: "I'm so thrilled to be directing this unique piece of theatrical history, having followed Blackeyed Theatre and their extraordinary work for many years.

"One of the most exciting things about Oh What a Lovely War is how universal, timeless, and ever relevant it is, and testament to the brilliance of the work is how it can bear endless reinterpretation.

"Our concept will explore the idea of war as a circus, with an incredibly talented company of actor-musicians bringing Joan Littlewood's ground-breaking classic to life with music, comedy, and stories.

Oh What a Lovely War stars Christopher Arkeston (Only Fools and Horses: The Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Revolting Women, Mikron Theatre Company; Much Ado About Nothing, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival), 2023 Rose Bruford graduate Tom Crabtree, Harry Curley (Once, Barn Theatre; Summer in the City, The Gatehouse; Caligari, Underbelly), Alice E Mayer (Frankenstein, Blackeyed Theatre; The Chronicles of Wild Hollow, Audible; Y Mabinogi, Welsh tour), Chioma Uma (Brief Encounter, New Wolsey and UK tour; Kiss Me Kate, Watermill Theatre; Cinderella The Rockin' Panto!, New Wolsey Theatre) and Euan Wilson (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Vienna English Theatre; The Great Gatsby, Immersive London; Stick Man, UK tour).

The production is directed by Nicky Allpress (The Shape of Things, Park Theatre; The Walworth Farce, Southwark Playhouse Elephant; My Brilliant Friend, National Theatre), with musical direction by Ellie Verkerk (Burnt City, Punchdrunk; The Color Purple, UK tour; SIX, West End and UK tour) and movement direction by Adam Haigh (The Mikado, Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour; Ruddigore, Wilton's Music Hall; Kiss Me Kate, Leicester Curve).

Nicky Allpress

Interview with Nicky Allpress, Director

You've chosen a circus as a setting for your production of Oh What A Lovely War. How did you come to that decision and what do you hope audience get from it?

It seemed natural to me. That war as a concept is a circus of a kind, not only the 'Great War', but every war since.

Not only does the original material lend itself perfectly to a troop of entertainers of every discipline and talent, from the Ringmaster to the clowns, it's also the perfect backdrop in terms of design and aesthetic.

What do you think our relationship is with a piece like Oh What A Lovely War in 2024, and how has that informed your approach to directing it?

There are so many moments in so many scenes that resonate as if they had been written by a satirist in 2024. The same heroes and villains are pulling the same tricks, from the politicians and the arms profiteers to the effect media propaganda has on the man on the street. It's witty and wild ride, with as many contemporary gags as there are nostalgic songs. It's rich material that conjures so many parallels with the ongoing tragedies of war torn countries today.

How does performing the play with a cast of six (as opposed to the prescribed 15 plus band) impact audience experience in your view?

I think it brings the audience closer. The theatrical act of quick changes, swapping voices and accents as actors move from one character or instrument to the next, breaks the stiff formal boundary that traditional plays can create. We know it's illusion, and from the very moment the audience walk in, they're faced with a troop of six very playful performers warming up and unpacking their props. There's no grand barrier between them and us - we're all in it together.

What do you want audiences to come away from the show with?

I hope first and foremost they will feel entertained, but I hope they'll also feel deeply moved from laughter to tears. There's no preaching, just a group of light-hearted circus cabaret acts showing us how ridiculous humans are to fight, when we could be united in dancing and singing.

Show details

TUESDAY 7 & WEDNESDAY 8 MAY, 7.30PM

WEDNESDAY MATINEE, 1.30PM

TICKETS FROM: £19.50 - £23 CONCESSIONS: £2 OFF SCHOOL RATE: £14.50 PLUS 1 TEACHER FREE WITH EVERY 10 STUDENTS

BOX OFFICE: 01268 205 300 WEBSITE: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk TWITTER: @towngatetheatre FACEBOOK: /towngate INSTAGRAM: @towngatetheatre Notes Ages 11+