The Accrington Pals follows the story of the innocent and enthusiastic men who volunteered their services to their King and country after Kitchener's calls for a New Army, performing on stage at Titchfield Festival Theatre from 12 – 16 November 2024.

The experiences of the life of the ‘pals’ on the Western Front are contrasted with the women who are left behind in Accrington, women who come together as friends when facing financial, social and missing loved ones, as well as being thrown into the social changes that came along with the absence of many men. The main characters, too, are contrasted: May, as an independent, hard-working, fruit and veg stall holder; Tom, her lodger, as optimistic and idealistic and Eva, May's trusted and generous confidante and sweetheart of Ralph. The play has fun and light-hearted moments, which are starkly contrasted with the terrifying reality hundreds of men faced at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Colin Martin is director of The Accrington Pals, and talks to Simon Frost:

Simon: Why did you choose to direct this play? Have you always had an interest in military themed plays?

Colin: My lifelong fascination with wartime stories began at a young age with the film Saving Private Ryan. As my interest in theatre grew, I found myself involved in a production of R.C. Sherriff's world-famous First World War play Journey's End. The significance of this adaptation, written by Gillian Plowman, lay in its historical connection to the Selsey Town Pavilion. The project aimed to revitalise the pavilion, leading to a series of productions, including Journey's End itself. This experience ignited my passion for wartime stories, as the play's portrayal of the war's hardships and grief deeply resonated with me.

Simon: I read a review which stated that The Accrington Pals is one of the best plays ever about the First World War. Why do you think this is?

Colin: During this time I was studying at Chichester college and we were gearing up to present Accrington Pals where I played the part of Ralph which was a typical casting for me: boisterous, loud and a 'class clown'. Unlike other war time stories, the conflict of war isn't the centre point of the story. Rather the play speaks and refers to the 'pals' themselves and focuses on the women who were left at home.

Simon: What other themes do you feel that the play explores?

Colin: The Accrington Pals is a powerful play that challenges traditional gender roles and highlights the struggles faced by women during wartime. I aim to delve deeper into this aspect of the play, as I am passionate about promoting equality and challenging traditional gender roles. A wartime drama, often dominated by masculine figures, provides an ideal platform for exploring these themes.

The play has a huge emphasis on the domestic sphere of family and friendship which can sometimes be overlooked in the genre. Grief isn't grief without love first making an impact. This is reflected in May's character and her relationship with Tom.

Simon: Tell me a little about the casting of the different characters in the play.

Colin: The casting for this show proved difficult in terms of keeping the ages appropriate. Most of the male characters in the show are aged in their mid to late teens, whilst the female roles are a more diverse range of ages - and I needed a realistic 'town folk' feel within the casting. This chemistry is vital to the show's success, especially when you look at the various couples in the show. Ralph and Eva are the quintessential young and naive couple who can't keep their hands off each other; Arthur and Annie are the older and more experienced married pair who tend to resent each other but deep down share a deep and loving connection; and Tom and May are second cousins who wish they weren't.

Simon: Why do you think people should come along and watch The Accrington Pals?

Colin: I think The Accrington Pals script does a good job of adding the light-hearted and humorous moments to the story despite the tragic backdrop. I hope audiences can walk away with thanks and recognition of the characters' sacrifices and for the real young people who were their real counterparts during the war.

The Accrington Pals performs in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre between 12 to 16 November 2024. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/  or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.

Watch our trailer here.