BRITISH comedy musical Oh! What a Lovely War is being staged at King’s Ely this month.
To mark the centenary of the end of the Great War, King’s Company is presenting the iconic 1969 play with music at the school’s Hayward Theatre from Thursday, March 22nd through to Saturday, March 24th.
First performed by the Theatre Workshop under the direction of Joan Littlewood, Oh! What a Lovely War is a theatrical chronicle of the horrors of the First World War told through songs, parodies and historical documents. The jaunty music-hall style songs contrast the hideous battle statistics, creating a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions for the audience. The show follows the events of the First World War, from the shooting of Archduke Ferdinand, through Britain’s declaration of War on Germany and the Battle of the Somme, documenting the tragic loss of life suffered on all sides.
The show features many nostalgic musical numbers such as ‘Keep The Home Fires Burning’, ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’, and of course, ‘Oh! It’s A Lovely War’. The show is being directed by Laura Dixon, musically directed by Richard Walmsley and choreographed by Natasha Hobbs.
The production is at 7pm each evening and tickets are free, however seating should be booked in advance via the online Box Office at www.kingsely.org/news-events/box-office/.