An August Bank Holiday Lark

Tomorrow morning, you and Frank Armitage are getting wed. In my opinion, marriage is blind optimism at any time, but especially in wartime. It's an act of faith. Taking its title from a line in Philip Larkin's poem 'MCMXIV', An August Bank Holiday Lark explores the impact of the First World War on a rural community in East Lancashire. Set in the idyllic summer of 1914 rural Lancashire, everyone in the community is excited about Wakes week; a rest from field and mill and a celebration of the Rushbearing Festival with singing, courting, drinking and dancing. The looming war barely registers . . . but it will. Through the lens of traditional rural life, the play follows the stories of the people of the village and witnesses their personal transitions from exuberance to touching naivety as they manage their loss with courage and humanity. An August Bank Holiday Lark received its world premiere on 7 February 2014, in a touring production by Northern Broadsides and New Vic Theatre.

Deborah McAndrew