"Why should men make haste to die?"

And so to the theatre. Northern Broadsides' tour of their latest production 'An August Bank Holiday Lark' reaches the West Yorkshire Playhouse and it is first class. Barry 'Bazza' Rutter shines in the lead role as if it was written for him; which of course it was. It's a new play by Deborah McAndrew set, as so many will be this year, at the outbreak of the First World War. The reviews have been very positive so far and I'm certainly not going to disagree. I spoke briefly to the theatre critic of the Morning Star during the interval and she was very impressed by the upbeat first half. Having the benefit of hindsight, the audience realises that the war will not in fact be over by Christmas and anticipates the somewhat darker second act.

Compare this hat with the one he wore as Holofernes; just saying

At a previous Broadsides performance of a Shakespeare play I overheard someone in the bar complaining about the clog dancing. Now, going to see Rutter et al and being surprised by the clog dancing is like going to the Derby and being taken aback by the sight of short men on horses. The company have therefore taken the logical step of making clog dancing the theme of the play and it features pretty much all the way through including a spectacular and thrilling set piece to finish act one. Trust me, it's better than it sounds.

As most people know Northern Broadsides perform in regional accents and always try to include various local references. McAndrew develops this theme by including allusions to, for example, the film 'Brassed Off' and the television series 'Brass'. Mind you she also references 'Strictly Ballroom' which isn't particularly northern. A.E Houseman is also mentioned throughout, so let me finish by quoting from 'A Shropshire Lad' for the second time in this posting.

"Far and near and low and louder

On the roads of earth go by

Dear to friends and food for powder,

Soldiers marching, all to die.

East and west on fields forgotten

Bleach the bones of comrades slain

Lovely days and dead and rotten;

None that go return again."