Description
CHARACTERS
Fanny Fletcher (nee Adamson) : Old Fanny is aged eighty-two in 1979, she has limited mobility and uses a walking stick, but she still has a lively brain.
Fanny Adamson: Young Fanny is in her late teen and early twenties during the 1915-18 scenes.
The Man: playing John Fletcher in 1979 , Charlesworth Adamson (Dad) , Louis Adamson, George Fletcher, Arthur Cunliffe and four different ministers in 1915-19.
The Woman: playing Susan Fletcher in 1979 , Mam and Amy Collinson in 1915-19.
It is useful if all the characters are able to sing simple World War One tunes. The Man and Woman need to be capable of playing multiple parts.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
This production toured Yorkshire in 2018. It was popular in small village halls and completed its tour at Skipton Town Hall. Most poignant was the production at Armley Mills museum, the building where Fanny used to work.
REVIEWS
What a delightful evening’s entertainment! Jay not only directed but wrote this play and what a good job she made of it. It told the life of Fanny Adamson, a mill worker from Armley and her life during two great wars. The story was told by Fanny, now eighty years old and a mother and grandma. Her life as a girl was typical of the time. Although the brightest in the family, there was no chance of further education for her and she was sent to work in the mill. When the weavers went to war the women were ‘promoted’ to weave the cloth knowing that when the men returned they would have to go back to dirtier and less well paid jobs. Her Father ruled the family and there was no escaping to try a nursing job or a better paid job in munitions. There was plenty of humour in Fanny’s narration and lots of memories for the older members of the audience…
This was a well thought out and researched piece of drama, cleverly put together with a very poignant ending. It was very well received by the audience and deserved the enthusiastic applause. I hope to see this play performed again in the future, it certainly deserves recognition.
Pam Booth (NODA rep)
RUNNING TIME
Approximately 75 minutes – but presented with a short interval after 40 minutes
PREVIEW
Preview available here
