Oh What A Lovely War come to Towngate Theatre

The 2024 tour dates have been announced for Blackeyed Theatre’s critically acclaimed revival of Oh
What a Lovely War.

Conceived and developed by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963, Oh What a Lovely War remains a classic of modern theatre, a fusion of timeless songs – including Pack Up Your Troubles and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary – razor-sharp satire and high jinks, offering a joyously scathing account of the First World War. Wildly satirical, visually stunning, and deeply moving, the show is a hilarious, heart-breaking snapshot of life for those caught in the crossfire of conflict, a unanimous voice from the trenches and a timely warning from the theatre of war itself.

Oh What a Lovely War stars Tom Benjamin (Fire Songs, Frozen Light; Rewind, Ephemeral Ensemble), 2023 Rose Bruford graduate Tom Crabtree, Harry Curley (Once, Barn Theatre; Summer in the City, The Gatehouse; Caligari, Underbelly), Alice E Mayer (Frankenstein, Blackeyed Theatre; The Chronicles of Wild Hollow, Audible; Y Mabinogi, Welsh tour), Chioma Uma (Brief Encounter, New Wolsey and UK tour; Kiss Me Kate, Watermill Theatre; Cinderella The Rockin’ Panto!, New Wolsey Theatre) and Euan Wilson (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Vienna English Theatre; The Great Gatsby, Immersive London; Stick Man, UK tour). The cast is notable for having all trained at Rose Bruford.

The show comes to Basildon’s Towngate Theatre on 7th and 8th May.

Aston spoke to Tom Benjamin.

Photo: Towngate Theatre