Isle of Wight-based professional theatre company, Theatre Reviva!, has cast 2 Island A-level students in their first, paid theatre jobs as British Infantry private soldiers in Journey’s End by R C Sherriff.
Theatre Reviva!’s first season on the Island opens with a full-length production of this gripping World War I play at the Apollo Theatre from 1st-5th November. Out of the local auditions, Director Graham Pountney has chosen to cast 17-year-olds Tom Howarth and Fred Valvona to create accurate characters of enlisted young men, fighting for their lives in the front line trenches of 1918.
Journey’s End tells the story of a group of soldiers anxiously awaiting a German attack; full of beautifully observed humanity and understated heroism, R C Sherriff drew on his personal experiences in the trenches whilst a Captain in the East Surrey Regiment.
Ebb Phillips from Ventnor also joins the production as the German prisoner. Ebb trained at Guildford School of Acting’s Junior Conservatoire, and has been involved with many amateur production companies, namely the Island Savoyards.
The Apollo Theatre is proud to host this amazing play in its 50th anniversary year, in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday; and welcomes back director and actor Graham Pountney to the Apollo. Graham first stood on the Apollo stage in 1970, to rehearse his audition speeches for entry into drama school; he now brings a lifetime of experience to this production, and is excited to encourage new, young blood into his Isle of Wight-based theatre company.
Theatre Reviva! is aiming to create regular, professional productions on the Island – and is delighted to start the journey here, on the Apollo Theatre stage.
Tom, Fred and Ebb can be seen every night and at the matinees, on stage at the Apollo Theatre, Pyle Street, Newport from 1st-5th November. The play is a corkscrew of tension, emotion and drama – with laughs, banter and poignancy along the way. If you enjoy top quality drama, catch this amazing production before it leaves the Island on tour.
Box office: 01983 210010 / www.apollo-theatre.org.uk.
