Back onto the front line: Blackeyed Theatre

Marking the 60th anniversary of Joan Littlewood's Oh What A Lovely War, Blackeyed Theatre is reviving its acclaimed 2011 production with an ensemble of six leading actor-musicians. As artistic director Adrian McDougall reminds us, ‘Oh What a Lovely War is a fusion of live music, movement, songs and sketches bringing to life the folly, farce and tragedy of the First World War. Now, more than ever, it holds a mirror up to the world and speaks to us all.’

I spoke with Nicky Allpress about directing this new revival with Blackeyed on a sunny day in June. Allpress joins me on Zoom as she deftly manages her full-time schedule as a freelance director and dramaturg (at the time of interview, she's working on the acclaimed production of The Shape of Things at the Park Theatre).

AS: Is this your first collaboration with Blackeyed Theatre?

NA: I’ve known Adrian McDougall for the best part of nearly 20 years, and we have followed each other's careers. I saw his earlier iteration of Oh What a Lovely War, which was wonderful and I'm excited to get to work with him at last.

AS: What can young people expect?

NA: One of the things that really excites me about this piece is that it is timeless. The characters are living it in WW1, and war – the subject matter – is universal. These days more than ever, young people can’t escape the news and are generally very politically aware. They are aware of the concept of war and of global wars, and the media makes them more aware of satire as a concept. I’m looking at contemporary versions of original songs and music, using versions that some of the young actors brought to the auditions, all the while keeping the story and its characters at the centre.

Young people want to see themselves on stage and to connect with stories. My mum used to take me to the theatre all the time, and it was so important to see myself reflected on stage. I hope we achieve that with this cast.

AS: IB Theatre students are asked to share their directorial vision in the form of a Director's Notebook. What is your vision and inspiration for Oh What a Lovely War?

NA: I am quite excited and inspired by the European cabaret style of dark clowning and using the parts of Europe found in the play as an inspiration for what performers looked like at the turn of the century. That world of the MC in Cabaret is a broken and ugly cabaret style that fits perfectly into the casting of six actor-musicians.  

I have brought the production closer to Joan Littlewood’s original, using Pierrots as clowns and leaning a little more into the world where Commedia Dell'Arte meets European cabaret. This style accommodates a more universal interpretation of gender, age and time and race.

AS: Joan Littlewood is a prescribed practitioner on the drama curriculum. How do you feel about the impact of her work?

NA: Groundbreaking. We all devise theatre now but back then, this was new.

AS: Her theatre companies were collaborative, experimental and politically engaged. Are you a collaborator?

NA: Absolutely! I met the musical director Ellie Verkerk during the casting process, and I am excited about planning and shortlisting the instruments we need with her. I have worked with Adam Haigh before, who is a fantastic choreographer. I get very excited when I see our cast list of mostly regional actors including some brilliant young graduates. I cannot wait to get them all together to see six performers taking this material and playing with it. The process is humbling. I am humanising the play so that the global majority are the main audience the piece serves. There is a bit of everybody telling the story and it’s not just a white version of the play.

Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre hosts the 60th Anniversary tour of Joan Littlewood's Oh What A Lovely War by Theatre Workshop, Charles Chilton, Gerry Raffles and members of the original cast. Taking place between September 2023 and May 2024, the show is suitable for those aged 11 and above.

blackeyedtheatre.co.uk/shows-2/shows/oh-what-a-lovely-war/