Stage previews
– Lotty's War @ Greenwich Playhouse
– Canterbury Tales @ Greenwich Theatre
– Foreskin's Lament @ Hackney Empire
STAGE
Lotty’s War Greenwich Playhouse
Lotty’s War tells the story of the occupation of Guernsey and the Channel Islands during the second world war, through the eyes of 17 year-old Lotty.
Forced to be a virtual prisoner in her own home and doubted by her own people, Lotty has to discover an inner resolve to help the people she loves.
Based on true events, Lotty’s War explores what it means to be occupied, to sacrifice and to love.
Channel Productions Guernsey founder Giuliano Crispini said: “Guernsey and the Channel Islands were the only part of Britain the Nazis managed to occupy.
"British people found themselves in a position similar to the occupied countries of today and Lotty’s War explores the boundaries of collaboration, loyalty and patriotism.�
Nov 11-Dec 9, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 4pm, £12 (£10), 020 8858 9256, www.galleontheatre.co.uk, DLR: Greenwich
STAGE
Canterbury Tales Greenwich Theatre
Mappa Mundi’s new revival of their energetic sell-out show takes Geoffrey Chaucer’s text and transforms it into a dramatic and comical entertainment, full of wit and charm.
As they make their annual pilgrimage to Canterbury, a group of Welsh commoners pass the time by performing some of Chaucer’s most appealing tales, filling the stage with a blend of boisterous comedy, romance and fetching images.
The show features some of Chaucer’s best-loved stories, including The Miller’s Tale, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale and The Wife Of Bath’s Tale, all set to a delightful score.
But this is no heavy duty history lessons – popular culture references abound and there are plenty of smart verbal and visual gags.
Nov 13-Nov 15, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm), £12.50-£17.50, (concs), 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk, DLR: Greenwich
STAGE
Foreskin’s Lament Hackney Empire
Trailer Trash Theatre is bringing the famous New Zealand play Foreskins Lament by Greg McGee back to the Hackney Empire after a successful run earlier in the year as a warm-up to Edinburgh Fringe.
A black comedy set in New Zealand, written by the former All Black trialist, the piece introduces us to the coarse masculine camaraderie of the rugby world – with its dark undertones.
Set in 1976 New Zealand, the story focuses on a rugby team whose lives are the game and each other: but underneath the hilarity lies a young man’s torn loyalties between the classes.
Director and producer Lindsey Bowden said: “The play tackles issues that society is still dealing with today.
“With the notion of disabled actors in non-disabled roles, we will be part of a movement that is constantly pushing forward diversity in theatre.�
To Nov 22, £12.50, 7.30pm, 020 8985 2424, www.hackneyempire.co.uk, Rail: Hackney
"Set in 1976 New Zealand ... a young man’s torn loyalties between the classes."
The word "class" is almost unknown in New Zealand and certainly wouldn't mean what it does in Britain. New Zealand in 1976 was "classless" - virtually all (lower) middle class (with a weak rich-poor divide that strengthened in the 1980s). The tensions the young man (a student back from the city) faces are urban vs rural and intellectual vs yobbo, but they are secondary to fair play vs winning.