We Happy Few (play)

We Happy Few is a 2004 play by Imogen Stubbs. It follows a group of female actors touring Shakespeare plays round the United Kingdom during World War II. It is based on the Nancy Hewins' touring group, the Osiris Players.[1] Its title quotes the St Crispin's Day Speech from Henry V.

We Happy Few
Written byImogen Stubbs
Date premiered2003
Place premieredMalvern Theatres
Original languageEnglish

Premiere

Originally written and performed in 2003 at Malvern Theatres,[2] it was further developed into the play which opened in London in 2004. The play was based on the Osiris Players who were the first professional all-woman theatre company founded by Nancy Hewins.[3]

The play's London premiere was directed by Stubbs' husband Trevor Nunn at the Gielgud Theatre and starred Juliet Stevenson and Patsy Palmer. It opened on Tuesday 29 June 2004 but, though planned to run to November 2004, poor audience figures and critical or lukewarm reviews[4][5][6] led to it closing at the end of July 2004.[7] The play was again performed in Malvern in 2012.[2]

Original cast
  • Juliet Stevenson - Hettie Oaks, leader of the troupe
  • Marcia Warren - Flora Pelmet, co-founder of the troupe
  • Kate O'Mara - Helen, alcoholic children's radio presenter and frustrated actress
  • Patsy Palmer - Charlotte, Cockney tomboy, latterly Rosalind's girlfriend
  • Caroline Blakiston - Jocelyn, stage manager
  • Paul Bentley - Reggie Pelmet, Flora's cousin
  • Rosemary McHale - Gertrude, German Jewish refugee
  • Adam Davy - Joseph Rosenbaum, Gertrude's son
  • Cat Simmons - Ivy, Joseph's girlfriend
  • Emma Darwall-Smith - Rosalind, new RADA graduate, Helen's daughter

Publication

The play was published (and is licensed for amateur performance) by Nick Hern Books, London.

Notes
  1. Barker, Paul (26 June 2004). "Shakespeare's sisters". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  2. "Theatre Players go back to wartime for production". Malvern Gazette. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  3. Barker, Paul (2004-06-26). "Paul Barker on the genius of The Osiris Players". the Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  4. Billington, Michael (5 July 2004). "Review - We Happy Few". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  5. Maguire, Laurie (10 July 2004). "Letter in response to Billington's review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  6. Kellaway, Kate (11 July 2004). "Are you sitting uncomfortably?". The Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  7. Higgins, Charlotte (23 July 2004). "Fall in West End audiences". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
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