Oh, What a Lovely War! - Revision history

Darryl: /* Performance history in South Africa */

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Performance history in South Africa

Ivor: /* Performance history in South Africa */

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Performance history in South Africa

Ivor: /* Performance history in South Africa */

2025-09-22T10:27:29Z

Performance history in South Africa

Satj: /* Sources */

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Sources

Satj: /* Sources */

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Sources

Satj: /* Translations and adaptations */

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Translations and adaptations

Satj: /* Translations and adaptations */

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Translations and adaptations

Satj: /* The original text */

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The original text

Satj: Created page with " ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' is musical developed by Joan Littlewood (1914–2002) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Littlewood] and her ensemble at The Theatre Workshop..."

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Created page with " ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' is musical developed by Joan Littlewood (1914–2002) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Littlewood] and her ensemble at The Theatre Workshop..."

New page

''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]'' is musical developed by Joan Littlewood (1914–2002) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Littlewood] and her ensemble at The Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London.

== The original text ==

Based on Charles Chilton's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chilton] radio musical for the BBC Home Service, called ''The Long Long Trail'' about World War I, the central theme revolves around exposing the maniacal greed of war mongers, the self interest of politicians and the manipulative strategies of financiers, it does with wit, broad comedy, songs, and the style of the music hall.

First performed in 1963

==Translations and adaptations==

Made into a successful film by [[Richard Attenborough]] in under the title ''[[Oh! What a Lovely War]]'' in 1969. The cast included South African performer [[Richard Loring]]

== Performance history in South Africa ==
1969: Presented by the [[University of Cape Town]]'s Speech and Drama Department in March at the [[Little Theatre]], directed by [[Mavis Taylor]], starring [[Sharon Lazarus]], [[Janice Honeyman]], [[Judith Cornell]], [[Vicki Hertz]].

1975: Staged by [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], directed by [[Fred Hagemann]], the cast including [[James Whyle]], [[Andrew Buckland]] and Janet Connor (later [[Janet Buckland]]).

1978: Presented by [[CAPAB]] at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], directed by [[Mavis Taylor]], opening 3 May. The large cast included [[Peter Cartwright]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Roger Dwyer]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Michelle Fine]], [[Di Flack]], [[Philip Godawa]], [[Pieter Joubert]], [[Miranda Kark]], [[Brian Kennedy]], [[Blaise Koch]], [[Chris McWilliams]], [[Christopher Prophet]], [[Paul Slabolepszy]], [[Mees Xteen]], [[Len Sparrow-Hawk]], [[Neville Thomas]], [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Murray Woodfield]] and [[Suzanne Davies]]. Musical director [[Graham Scott]], costumes [[John Caviggia]], lighting [[John T. Baker]].

1980: Staged by [[PACT]] Drama, directed by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] with musical direction by [[Bill Fairley]] and choreography by [[Wally Green]]. The cast included: [[Pamela Gien]], [[Bobby Heaney]], [[Andre Jacobs]], [[Gay Lambert]], [[Michael McCabe]], [[Judy Page]], [[Etienne Puren]], [[Jonathan Rands]], [[Michael Richard]], [[Erica Rogers]], [[Deon Stewardson]], [[Amanda Strydom]], [[Jonathan Taylor]], [[Peter Terry]], [[James White]] and [[Murray Woodfield]].

1993: A student production by [[Wits University]] in April/May. Directed by [[Fred Hagemann]]. Choreography by [[Fred Hagemann]] and assisted by Ren'ee Sigel and members of the company. Assistant director: [[Barbie Rubin]]. Designed by [[Sarah Roberts]]. Lighting design by [[Gerry Couglan]]. The [[Wits Orchestra]] conducted by [[Professor Walter Mony]]. Cast: [[Don Boroughs]], [[Jessica Chalmers]], [[George Coutsoudis]], [[Crispin Denys]], [[Linda Hart]], [[Dena Kopenhager]], [[Natalie Lotkin]], [[Kim Michelow]], [[Nick Nicolaou]], [[Lindani Nkosi]], [[Rodney Sandwith]], [[Barbara Shapiro]], [[Cassandra Steyn]], [[David Steyn]], [[Dalene Turner]], [[Clive Vanderwagen]], [[Nicki Venter]]. The band: [[Rozanne Mentzel]], [[Lisa Homann]], [[Millicent Mailula]], [[Wolsey Mailula]], [[Ceri Moelwyn-Hughes]], [[Innocent Mlambo]], [[Quinton Gilbertson]], [[Ishmael Khambule]], [[James French]], [[Rudolph van Dyk]], [[Colin Snaddon]], David Hönigsberg, [[Timothy Hyslop]]

== Sources ==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh,_What_a_Lovely_War!]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War

[[ESAT Bibliography I|Inskip]], 1972.

[[CAPAB]] theatre programme, 1978.

[[PACT]] theatre programme, 1980.

Programme of a [[Wits]] student production of ''[[Oh What a Lovely War]]'' in April-May 1993.

[[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection.

Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]

Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]

Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]

Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]

Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 : Staged by [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], directed by [[Fred Hagemann]], the cast including [[James Whyle]], [[Andrew Buckland]] and Janet Connor (later [[Janet Buckland]]).
--20 November, 1976: Staged by [[PEMADS]], directed by [[John Hussey]] at the [[Little Theatre]] Port Elizabeth. Musical Director [[Jandy Offerman]] and choreographer [[Jacuie Newman]]. Starring [[Brenda Chapel]], [[Jacquie Gilson]], [[Bunty Gammon]], [[Dee Hart]], [[Gill Killeen]], [[Melissa Lyall]], [[Dianne Kingsley]], [[Patricia Schultze]], [[Jean Young]], [[Dorothy-Lynne Watkins]], [[Bud Baylis]], [[David Carver]], [[Dennis Evans]], [[Robert Gardiner]], [[George Jones]], [[Gwyn James]], [[Bill Kemp]], [[Chris Mathew]], [[Roy McGregor]], [[Gordon Roberts]], [[Dennis Slattery]].
+-20 November, 1976: Staged by [[PEMADS]], directed by [[John Hussey]] at the [[Little Theatre]] Port Elizabeth. Musical Director [[Jandy Offerman]] and choreographer [[Jacuie Newman]]. Starring [[Brenda Chapel]], [[Jacquie Gilson]], [[Bunty Gammon]], [[Dee Hart]], [[Gill Killeen]], [[Melissa Lyall]], [[Dianne Kingsley]], [[Patricia Schultze]], [[Jean Young]], [[Dorothy-Lynne Watkins]], [[Bud Baylis]], [[David Carver]], [[Dennis Evans]], [[Robert Gardiner]], [[George Jones]], [[Gwyn James]], [[Bill Kemp]], [[Chris Mathew]], [[Roy McGregor]], [[Gordon Roberts]] and [[Dennis Slattery]].
 : Presented by [[CAPAB]] at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], directed by [[Mavis Taylor]], opening 3 May. The large cast included [[Peter Cartwright]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Roger Dwyer]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Michelle Fine]], [[Di Flack]], [[Philip Godawa]], [[Pieter Joubert]], [[Miranda Kark]], [[Brian Kennedy]], [[Blaise Koch]], [[Chris McWilliams]], [[Christopher Prophet]],  [[Paul Slabolepszy]], [[Mees Xteen]], [[Len Sparrow-Hawk]], [[Neville Thomas]], [[Pieter-Dirk  Uys]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Murray Woodfield]] and [[Suzanne Davies]]. Musical director [[Graham Scott]], costumes [[John Caviggia]], lighting [[John T. Baker]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:27, 22 September 2025
Line 16:		Line 16:

	1975: Staged by [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], directed by [[Fred Hagemann]], the cast including [[James Whyle]], [[Andrew Buckland]] and Janet Connor (later [[Janet Buckland]]).		1975: Staged by [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], directed by [[Fred Hagemann]], the cast including [[James Whyle]], [[Andrew Buckland]] and Janet Connor (later [[Janet Buckland]]).
		+
		+	6-20 November, 1976: Staged by [[PEMADS]], directed by [[John Hussey]] at the [[Little Theatre]] Port Elizabeth. Musical Director [[Jandy Offerman]] and choreographer [[Jacuie Newman]]. Starring [[Brenda Chapel]], [[Jacquie Gilson]], [[Bunty Gammon]], [[Dee Hart]], [[Gill Killeen]], [[Melissa Lyall]], [[Dianne Kingsley]], [[Patricia Schultze]], [[Jean Young]], [[Dorothy-Lynne Watkins]], [[Bud Baylis]], [[David Carver]], [[Dennis Evans]], [[Robert Gardiner]], [[George Jones]], [[Gwyn James]], [[Bill Kemp]], [[Chris Mathew]], [[Roy McGregor]], [[Gordon Roberts]], [[Dennis Slattery]].

	1978: Presented by [[CAPAB]] at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], directed by [[Mavis Taylor]], opening 3 May. The large cast included [[Peter Cartwright]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Roger Dwyer]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Michelle Fine]], [[Di Flack]], [[Philip Godawa]], [[Pieter Joubert]], [[Miranda Kark]], [[Brian Kennedy]], [[Blaise Koch]], [[Chris McWilliams]], [[Christopher Prophet]], [[Paul Slabolepszy]], [[Mees Xteen]], [[Len Sparrow-Hawk]], [[Neville Thomas]], [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Murray Woodfield]] and [[Suzanne Davies]]. Musical director [[Graham Scott]], costumes [[John Caviggia]], lighting [[John T. Baker]].		1978: Presented by [[CAPAB]] at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], directed by [[Mavis Taylor]], opening 3 May. The large cast included [[Peter Cartwright]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Roger Dwyer]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Michelle Fine]], [[Di Flack]], [[Philip Godawa]], [[Pieter Joubert]], [[Miranda Kark]], [[Brian Kennedy]], [[Blaise Koch]], [[Chris McWilliams]], [[Christopher Prophet]], [[Paul Slabolepszy]], [[Mees Xteen]], [[Len Sparrow-Hawk]], [[Neville Thomas]], [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Murray Woodfield]] and [[Suzanne Davies]]. Musical director [[Graham Scott]], costumes [[John Caviggia]], lighting [[John T. Baker]].

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Translations and adaptations==
-Made into a successful film in 1969 by [[Richard Attenborough (1923 – 2014)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Attenborough] under the title ''[[Oh! What a Lovely War]]''.[] The cast and crew included Guernsey-born South African performer [[Richard Loring]].
+Made into a successful film in 1969 by Richard Attenborough (1923 – 2014)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Attenborough] under the title ''[[Oh! What a Lovely War]]''.[] The cast and crew included Guernsey-born South African performer [[Richard Loring]].
 == Performance history in South Africa ==

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 : Staged by [[PACT]] Drama, directed by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] with musical direction by [[Bill Fairley]] and choreography by [[Wally Green]]. The cast included: [[Pamela Gien]], [[Bobby Heaney]], [[Andre Jacobs]], [[Gay Lambert]], [[Michael McCabe]], [[Judy Page]], [[Etienne Puren]], [[Jonathan Rands]], [[Michael Richard]], [[Erica Rogers]], [[Deon Stewardson]], [[Amanda Strydom]], [[Jonathan Taylor]], [[Peter Terry]], [[James White]] and [[Murray Woodfield]].
-: A student production by [[Wits University]] in April/May. Directed by [[Fred Hagemann]]. Choreography by [[Fred Hagemann]] and assisted by Ren'ee Sigel and members of the company. Assistant director: [[Barbie Rubin]]. Designed by [[Sarah Roberts]]. Lighting design by [[Gerry Couglan]]. The [[Wits Orchestra]] conducted by [[Professor Walter Mony]]. Cast: [[Don Boroughs]], [[Jessica Chalmers]], [[George Coutsoudis]], [[Crispin Denys]], [[Linda Hart]], [[Dena Kopenhager]], [[Natalie Lotkin]], [[Kim Michelow]], [[Nick Nicolaou]], [[Lindani Nkosi]], [[Rodney Sandwith]], [[Barbara Shapiro]], [[Cassandra Steyn]], [[David Steyn]], [[Dalene Turner]], [[Clive Vanderwagen]], [[Nicki Venter]]. The band: [[Rozanne Mentzel]], [[Lisa Homann]], [[Millicent Mailula]], [[Wolsey Mailula]], [[Ceri Moelwyn-Hughes]], [[Innocent Mlambo]], [[Quinton Gilbertson]], [[Ishmael Khambule]], [[James French]], [[Rudolph van Dyk]], [[Colin Snaddon]], David Hönigsberg, [[Timothy Hyslop]]
+: A student production by [[Wits University]] in April/May. Directed by [[Fred Hagemann]]. Choreography by [[Fred Hagemann]] and assisted by [[Renée Sigel]] and members of the company. Assistant director: [[Barbie Rubin]]. Designed by [[Sarah Roberts]]. Lighting design by [[Gerry Couglan]]. The [[Wits Orchestra]] conducted by [[Professor Walter Mony]]. Cast: [[Don Boroughs]], [[Jessica Chalmers]], [[George Coutsoudis]], [[Crispin Denys]], [[Linda Hart]], [[Dena Kopenhager]], [[Natalie Lotkin]], [[Kim Michelow]], [[Nick Nicolaou]], [[Lindani Nkosi]], [[Rodney Sandwith]], [[Barbara Shapiro]], [[Cassandra Steyn]], [[David Steyn]], [[Dalene Turner]], [[Clive Vanderwagen]], [[Nicki Venter]]. The band: [[Rozanne Mentzel]], [[Lisa Homann]], [[Millicent Mailula]], [[Wolsey Mailula]], [[Ceri Moelwyn-Hughes]], [[Innocent Mlambo]], [[Quinton Gilbertson]], [[Ishmael Khambule]], [[James French]], [[Rudolph van Dyk]], [[Colin Snaddon]], David Hönigsberg, [[Timothy Hyslop]]
 == Sources ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:41, 18 September 2024
Line 28:		Line 28:

	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War		https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War
		+
		+	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Littlewood

	[[ESAT Bibliography I\|Inskip]], 1972.		[[ESAT Bibliography I\|Inskip]], 1972.

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 == Sources ==
-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh,_What_a_Lovely_War!]
+https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh,_What_a_Lovely_War!
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 == The original text ==
-Based on Charles Chilton's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chilton] radio musical for the BBC Home Service, called ''The Long Long Trail'' about World War I, the central theme revolves around exposing the maniacal greed of war mongers, the self interest of politicians and the manipulative strategies of financiers, it does with wit, broad comedy, songs, and the style of the music hall.
+Based on Charles Chilton's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chilton] radio musical for the BBC Home Service, called ''[[The Long Long Trail]]'' (1961), about World War I, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963. The central theme revolves around exposing the maniacal greed of war mongers, the self interest of politicians and the manipulative strategies of financiers, it does with wit, broad comedy, songs, and the style of the music hall.
-First performed in 1963
+First performed at the Theatre Royal Stratford East on 19 March 1963, before transferring to the West End. It opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on 30 September 1964.
 ==Translations and adaptations==