A COMIC Lancashire drama is staging a comeback.
Hindle Wakes by Stanley Houghton, one of the first plays to have a working class female protagonist, and hugely controversial at the time of its writing opens The Green Room season.
The play runs at the Wilmslow theatre from Monday, October 9 to Saturday, October 14 at 7.45pm, plus a matinee on October 14 at 2.30pm.
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It’s holiday week in the Lancashire town of Hindle, just before the First World War.
Fanny Hawthorn, a spirited, determined mill girl, has just returned from a weekend in Blackpool with her friend Mary Hollins.
At least that’s what she tells her parents.
In fact, she’s been spending the weekend with Alan Jeffcote, a wealthy mill owner’s son who is engaged to someone else.
Their respective fathers once worked together before Mr Jeffcote senior rose to owning a mill, while Mr Hawthorn continued as a mill worker.
When Fanny’s parents discover the truth, they set out to ensure that Alan will do the decent thing and marry her – only to discover that Fanny has ideas of her own on the matter.
She makes it clear that she regarded the dalliance with Alan as ‘a bit of fun’ and considers him a poor choice for a husband.
She is disowned by her people but expresses confidence that her skills as a weaver will allow her to support herself in the future.
Tickets are now on sale at greenroomwilmslow.org.uk
Director Ian Cole said: “This is one of the classic plays, to open our new season.
“Focusing on the relationship between three families and the situation that has arisen between two members of those families, it is a play that still speaks to us in 2023 even though it was written in 1912.
“It’s a play with comedy at its heart, and we hope that as many of our regular audience, members and local people will come and enjoy it with us.
“If you haven’t seen a production at The Green Room before we have an excellent cast and production team to bring this thought provoking and entertaining play to the stage.
“I think that it would be an excellent introduction to the theatre.”
Tickets cost £10 for members and £12 full price.
The Saturday box office is open from 11am to 12 noon on October 7 on 01625 540933.
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