Journey's End
Auditions
Saturday 23 August 2014 1:30 pm
By the beginning of 1918, although Germany was winning the war in the east, its forces were running out of materiel and its civilians out of food. The German High Command knew that they stood little hope of winning the war in the west. General Ludendorff had an audacious plan to break through the Allied lines and cut off the Allies’ attempts at retreat.
R C Sherriff’s award winning play takes us to a single dugout in the trenches of Saint Quentin Asine in France for the days leading up to the German attack. Eighteen-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh is the new arrival in the company commanded by his former school friend and hero, Captain Stanhope.
“profoundly moving ... straight from the heart.” The Guardian
Basic Plot
The soldiers and officers admire their leader: Captain Stanhope. The men even tolerate his desperate need for whiskey. Alcohol seems to be the only thing that allows Stanhope to deal with the fear and senselessness of warfare. The captain has come to terms with his alcoholism. However, what little peace of mind he has left is shattered by the arrival of Lt. Raleigh.
Raleigh is entering the war for the first time. He is very idealistic, viewing the war as a romantic possibility to become a hero. He also idolizes Stanhope, having looked to him since he was a child. Stanhope is deeply unnerved by Raleigh's unexpected presence, in part because of the young officer's boyish idolatry. Even worse, Stanhope is in love with Raleigh's sister, though he stopped writing due to the horrors of battle. As the men wait for an attack, Stanhope fears that Raleigh will write home to his sister, revealing that the captain isn't the man he once was.
Contact details
Steve Wright
email: steve.wright1@xtra.co.nz
telephone: 09 444 7673 mobile: 021 978 428
Rehearsals
Commence Tuesday 2 September 2014, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week from 7.30pm, Sundays from 12.30pm
Season
Thursday 6 to Saturday 15 November 2014 - 10 performances (including 2 matinees)
About the director
I plan be true to the author’s intent in telling this story - one of the best anti war plays ever made. I am also very privileged to be contributing to the Centenary of the 1st World War and the acknowledgement of the men who fought and died.
I am a fan of Roger Hall plays and have directed “Glide Time”, “Prisoners Of Mother England”, “Social Climbers” and “Market Forces”. I have also directed “ Via Satellite” and “Bert and Maisy” for Dolphin Theatre and “Some One To Watch Over Me” for Company Theatre.
Military Rank
This is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations. Ranks in foreign military services may vary significantly, even when the same names are used. The importance of Military Rank is more than just who salutes whom – it is also a badge of leadership, and with each increase in rank there is more responsibility for personnel, equipment and the success of a mission.
Below is a list of commissioned officers, from senior to junior ranking:
Field Marshall
General
Lieutenant-General
Major-General
Brigadier-General
Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Cast Required
The cast requirements listed below are a general outline. (All age ranges are only suggestions and should be treated as guidelines. If you are onside of the age range but feel you are perfect for the role, please come along to audition.)
R C Sherriff’s award winning play takes us to a single dugout in the trenches of Saint Quentin Asine in France for the days leading up to the German attack. Eighteen-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh is the new arrival in the company commanded by his former school friend and hero, Captain Stanhope.
“profoundly moving ... straight from the heart.” The Guardian
Basic Plot
The soldiers and officers admire their leader: Captain Stanhope. The men even tolerate his desperate need for whiskey. Alcohol seems to be the only thing that allows Stanhope to deal with the fear and senselessness of warfare. The captain has come to terms with his alcoholism. However, what little peace of mind he has left is shattered by the arrival of Lt. Raleigh.
Raleigh is entering the war for the first time. He is very idealistic, viewing the war as a romantic possibility to become a hero. He also idolizes Stanhope, having looked to him since he was a child. Stanhope is deeply unnerved by Raleigh's unexpected presence, in part because of the young officer's boyish idolatry. Even worse, Stanhope is in love with Raleigh's sister, though he stopped writing due to the horrors of battle. As the men wait for an attack, Stanhope fears that Raleigh will write home to his sister, revealing that the captain isn't the man he once was.
Contact details
Steve Wright
email: steve.wright1@xtra.co.nz
telephone: 09 444 7673 mobile: 021 978 428
Rehearsals
Commence Tuesday 2 September 2014, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week from 7.30pm, Sundays from 12.30pm
Season
Thursday 6 to Saturday 15 November 2014 - 10 performances (including 2 matinees)
About the director
I plan be true to the author’s intent in telling this story - one of the best anti war plays ever made. I am also very privileged to be contributing to the Centenary of the 1st World War and the acknowledgement of the men who fought and died.
I am a fan of Roger Hall plays and have directed “Glide Time”, “Prisoners Of Mother England”, “Social Climbers” and “Market Forces”. I have also directed “ Via Satellite” and “Bert and Maisy” for Dolphin Theatre and “Some One To Watch Over Me” for Company Theatre.
Military Rank
This is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations. Ranks in foreign military services may vary significantly, even when the same names are used. The importance of Military Rank is more than just who salutes whom – it is also a badge of leadership, and with each increase in rank there is more responsibility for personnel, equipment and the success of a mission.
Below is a list of commissioned officers, from senior to junior ranking:
Field Marshall
General
Lieutenant-General
Major-General
Brigadier-General
Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Cast Required
The cast requirements listed below are a general outline. (All age ranges are only suggestions and should be treated as guidelines. If you are onside of the age range but feel you are perfect for the role, please come along to audition.)
No characters are listed for this production.