The Living Nightmare of Trench Warfare:

A thought provoking drama on a hugely emotive subject, Journey’s End portrays the nightmare of life in the trenches in 1918. The enemy and a bloody death just a few yards away, as the bullets and bombs take their toll.

Philip Franks is perfect as the avuncular Lieutenant Osborne. He does his duty but he understands his men. A steadying hand amid the chaos.

The young Tom Wisdom as Captain Stanhope plays a commanding officer teetering on the edge, presenting a facade of control by barking brusque orders at his troops.

He drowns his fears in whisky, but his mercurial mood swings show how close he is to breaking point. He must set an example and perform his duty. Cowardice is not an option, better to die with honour.

Philip Franks (Osborne)

Each member of the all male cast is superb. Each soldier has his own way of dealing with the escalating madness of war.

The officers are mostly stiff upper lip chaps. To a modern audience their "Jolly Jolly What Ho" accents sounding exaggerated and strange.

Things are "topping" and "splendid", and "funk" crops up regularly in its original meaning of gloom and despondency.

A Dose of Medicinal Laughter:

2nd Lieutenant Trotter (Roger Walker) plays the more down to earth chap, with a perpetual sense of duty and optimism. He lacks the imagination of the others and just does what he is told.

He adds humour to this bleak tale. His wife has written to ask if he has fleas and he says he "wishes it was fleas", implying a far more gruesome parasite has taken up residence.

Reminiscent of Baldrick, Stephen Casey's Private Mason - the cook and servant to the officers - also made me laugh with his culinary humour.

An army marches on its stomach, and I learned a great deal about the trench soldier's diet. Questionable cutlets, bully beef and sardine sandwiches, lashings of hot steaming onion flavoured tea, and an endless supply of cigarettes and whisky.

Tom Wisdom (Stanhope)

The routine of watches and food punctuates the endless fear of imminent death. Routine keeps their minds focused in the midst of the surrounding chaos.

Young officer Raleigh (Richard Glaves) arrives, excited at the prospect of fighting for his country.

But he becomes cannon fodder within days, dying alone in a trench for a few yards of gained territory.

Calm amid the Clamour:

The show climaxes with an earth-shattering barrage. Deafening bombs fall and the whole theatre rumbles.

This is in stark contrast to the rest of the play, where silence is the key. The trenches were surprisingly quiet places where the soldiers slept, ate and wrote copious letters to their loved ones.

The explosive ending as the curtain slowly falls leaves you feeling shell-shocked. This tremendous cast of actors take their call like statues against a monument featuring the names of the fallen, with the sweet sound of birdsong just audible.

It’s a few moments before the audience dares to break the poignant moment with applause.

In the foyer I heard people discuss how moved they felt and how atmospheric the show was. I left, trembling slightly, feeling in need of a cup of tea.... or perhaps something a bit stronger.

Journey's End
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Mon 20th - Sat 25th Sept, 2004
Tickets: £5 - £19 (concessions available)
Box Office: 01752 267222