Journey's End : June 2007
Behind the scenes of Journey's End : The Place becomes The Trench !
Paul Frecknall, the Director, only wanted to stage this play if it could be done completely authentically. The Place Theatre is a contemporary 130 seated theatre “in the round”. It is going to be converted into a WW1 trench! As the audience enter, they will feel as if they are actually in the bottom of the trench with the officers. Barbed wire, corrugated iron & sandbags are only a few of the items used to create this effect by set designer Giles Dixon. Lighting & sound will also play a large part in this production, with gunfire & explosions.
One of the biggest challenges facing the production team was finding authentic uniforms, equipment & props from the time of the First World War. The audience are seated so close to the stage that every little detail can be noted. We approached a professional company in Ipswich, called “Khaki Devil Ltd”. They supply military uniforms, equipment & historical advice to the professional theatre, film & television industry. We are using the same uniforms & set dressings that were used in the West End & national touring productions of “Journey’s End”, & currently being used in the American production on Broadway. We took the whole company down to Ipswich for costume fittings & to raid the barns of “Khaki Devil” for props. The cast were fascinated by the extensive artillery section, which included rifles, revolvers & machine guns. Learning how to put on the uniforms correctly, under the tutelage of the co founder Taff Gillingham, was a challenge. As he said, “This is how you can tell an amateur production from a professional one.” (Hopefully, we will remember the little details, to put us in the “professional” category!)
We have a strong cast of eleven men, who are totally committed to this production. A barber will be visiting The Place, to give each actor a severe short back & side’s haircut prior to their performance. Amongst other research, including consulting with an international historical advisor, we will be visiting the Imperial War Museum in London, to take part in “The Trench Experience”. We hope that this extensive research & commitment will add to the authenticity of the production & that the audience will be moved by this powerful and moving play.
