A revival of Joan Littlewood’s anti-war show Oh What a Lovely War is coming to Southwark Playhouse Borough in November 2023.
The London run is part of a new UK tour to mark the 60th anniversary of this seminal show, which was first conceived in 1963 by Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop.
Directed by Nicky Allpress (The Shape of Things), the cast will include Christopher Arkeston (Only Fools and Horses The Musical), Tom Crabtree, Harry Curley (Once), Alice E Mayer (Frankenstein), Chioma Uma (Brief Encounter) and Euan Wilson (The Great Gatsby).
Oh What a Lovely War is running at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 21 November to 9 December 2023.
Tour dates also include Bracknell, Bromley, Colchester, Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, Northampton, Tonbridge, Cranbrook, Mansfield, Chipping Norton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Eastbourne, Oundle, Finchley, Sale, Ulverston, Guildford, Southampton, Poole, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Lichfield, Harrogate, Scarborough, Hull, Derby and Mold.
The show has musical direction by Ellie Verkerk (The Burnt City), movement direction by Adam Haigh (The Mikado), set design by Victoria Spearing, orchestrations by Tom Neill, costumes by Naomi Gibbs and lighting by Alan Valentine.
Director Nicky Allpress said in a press statement: “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.”
The show is produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre.
More about tickets to Oh What a Lovely War at Southwark Playhouse Borough in London
