Autumn 2001

A little background on the play, if you missed it!

Stanhope is hailed by his men as one of the best Company Captains in the Army. But after three years on the front line he is nervous and exhausted. As Stanhope and his officers sit in their dugout awaiting attack, the full horror and futility of trench warfare in the First World War unfolds…

Journey’s End is set in 1918, on the Western front, where the Germans were once more preparing a massive offensive against the British army in France. The stress and fear associated with such attacks, as well as the anxiety of waiting, are very apparent among the characters of the play.

Journey’s End was first performed in 1928 by the Incorporated Stage Society with Laurence Olivier (then aged twenty-one) playing the role of Captain Stanhope. Following its immediate success in the West End the play moved to Broadway. By the summer of 1929 there were no fewer than fourteen companies performing the play in England and seventeen foreign-language versions being performed in Europe.

Characters and Acts

Stanhope - Jonathan Roberts

Osborne - Andrew Kendon

Trotter - Andy Hughes

Hibbert - Stuart Nunn

Raleigh - Dan Cordey

The Colonel - Gary Cooper

Sgt. Major - Andy Waller

Mason - Chris Owens

Hardy - Jonathan Salt

German Soldier - Philip Pope

Broughton - Raymond Livermore

Directed by - Gary Mackay

Production Team

Set Designer & Stage Manager - Pete Sweeney

Back Stage Crew - Bob Pugh & Chris Hunnam

Continuity - Gaenor Pring

Make-Up - Diana Mackay & Paul Sweeney

Props - Liz Graham

Costumes - Imperial War Museum, Duxford & Nigel Sweeney

Lighting - John Morgan

Sound - Steve Goodwin & Chris Dixon

Special Effects - Kevin Attwood

Front of House - Valerie Gerrard & Team

Publicity - John Morgan & Valerie Gerrard

Poster & Programme Design - Simon Webb

The Poster            The Programme

Photographs of the Set