Musical first for Theatre Severn
A poignant new musical that looks at the sacrifices make by young people during World War One has its premiere tonight.
Poppyfields has been written by writer John Howard with fellow ex-Oswestry Boys High School friends over the past eight years.
The former headteacher wrote the play to help today's youngsters understand more about the war and says it is his contribution to the centennial commemorations of its end. But it appeals to all ages.
Poppyfields runs at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury until Saturday, when there will also be a matinee.
The show is based on the lives and loves of a group of young people living on the Home Front on the Welsh Borderlands. It explores the stresses and hardship experienced during the six months leading up to opening salvo of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.
Mr Howard hopes it will eventually become a supplement to the national secondary school curriculum on WW1 studies.
Several composers have contributed songs including Shrewsbury’s very own ‘Paper Bubble’, featuring Brian Crane and Terry Brake; a well-known band from the 70s.
Mr Howard said: “The story of these young people’s lives is a fast-moving, often humorous and historically accurate script, that plays on and evokes a range of emotions."
One of the main cast members is Carly Woodward, one of Mr Howard's drama pupils from nine years ago.
She said: "Poppyfields is a love story of young people who who play out their lives against the back-drop of a world at war. It looks at the class system of the time and the barriers that were put up at the time.
"There are a couple of songs people will remember from the time but there are some wonderful, original songs as well. It is a very special production."
Tickets are available via theatresevern.co.uk or the Box Office on 01743 281281.
