Overview
Synopsis
The Accrington Pals tells the poignant story of the 700-strong battalion from Accrington, Lancashire that marched off to war in the summer of 1914, whistling as they went. But this play is as much about the women they left behind as the men themselves. Spanning the period up to the battle of the Somme in July 1916, national optimism and jingoism begins to wane as the terror and bloody sacrifice of war sets in. Back at home, the women find a sense of solidarity as they keep the town afloat and comfort each other in their loneliness. However, local stallholder May, remains an outsider who battles with her inability to express her love for her younger cousin, Tom, who is fighting in France with the rest of the town’s men. Inevitably, they all perish in the "big push” and the women band together to force the authorities to tell them the truth about the harrowing fates of their husbands and sons.
Show Information
- Book
- Peter Whelan
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1981
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Accrington, Lancashire, France, Autumn 1914 - July 1916
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
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
Scenes
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.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher