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Overview

Synopsis

First produced in 1928, Journey’s End offers a bleak and brutally honest insight into life in the trenches during World War One. It centers around Stanhope, the Commander of an infantry company fighting the Germans in France during 1918. Only in his early twenties, he has been ravaged and dramatically altered by the horrors of leading a company of men to their deaths in a savagely tragic war. He has turned to drinking copious amounts of whisky so that he does not “go mad with fright”. However, when Raleigh--a young, naive, and enthusiastic eighteen year old lieutenant--is recruited into his company, Stanhope’s blissful memories of his past collide with his desperate present. Raleigh hero-worships his older school friend from home and is stunned by the dramatic change in Stanhope’s character. Weaving Stanhope’s struggle for sanity with the differing experiences of several other officers in the trenches, Sherriff’s play provides a bitter commentary on the idiocy and damaging psychological effects of a war which saw very few men return from the front. Indeed, the honest account of war, themes, and relationships within the play still resonate today.

Show Information

Book
R. C. Sherriff
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1928
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
france, 1918
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
All-Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Stanhope

Lead

Male

Spoken

Osborne

Lead

Male

Spoken

Raleigh

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Trotter

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Hibberts

Supporting

Male

Spoken

The Colonel

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sergeant Major

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mason

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Hardy

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Young German Soldier

Featured

Male

Spoken

Private Soldiers

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    Also called "The Great War," a conflict between the Central Powers (including Germany and the Austria-Hungary Empire, among others) against the Allied Powers (including England, France, the United States, and others). The war began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, and lasted until the Armistice of November 11, 1918.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher