How much choice do we have?
West London Trade Union Club,
Saturday 12th November at 8pm
Traitors, Cads and Cowards by Martin McNamara
It is 1916 Germany launches an attack on Verdun. In Dublin, Irish radicals make a violent stab at independence. The Battle of the Somme that would bring 60,000 casualties begins. In London, Wandsworth Prison houses military prisoners, deserters, conscientious objectors to the war and Irish rebels from the Dublin Rising. In Traitors, Cads & Cowards, deserter Alfred, a veteran of the French & Belgium trenches is bunked in with Henry, one of the hated ‘conchies’, and a new arrival, Liam, a soldier of the Irish Volunteers. Can three very different ‘traitors to the King’ find common ground?
“A stark, powerful performance that will linger with you long after you leave the theatre” ★★★★ carnstheatrepassion
“A moving exploration of the effects of war and oppression” ★★★★ pubtheatres1
Read playwright Martin McNamara’s article in why he thinks his play makes a contribution to the Armistice weekend.
This performance will be dedicated to the memory of the late Annie Caulfield, the partner of Martin McNamara who died earlier this week
Buy tickets on the door £10/8 concessions. Unfortunately this venue has stairs and therefore no disabled access.
The venue is located in Acton High Street near the junction of Acton Lane and the Vale. It is about a 12 minute walk from Acton Town tube station (District and Piccadilly) and a 7 minute walk from Acton Central on the London Overground. Buses from Shepherd’s Bush and Ealing Common stop outside.
One festival – 6 plays across 3 London locations
1916 Wandsworth
Traitors, Cads & Cowards : An Irish Volunteer, transported to the military wing of Wandsworth Prison following the Easter Rising, is bunked with a British army deserter and a conscientious objector. Can three very different ‘traitors to the King’ find common ground? By Martin McNamara
Traitors, Cads and Cowards will be performed Lion and The Unicorn on 10th, 12th and 14th October and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Friday 21st October. West London Trade Union Club 11th and 12th November
1943 Kilburn
Crows by Day , Jackals by Night Donegal man Tommy couldn’t wait to join the British army fighting Nazi fascism. But can his high ideals survive service in the Far East? And how will his young Irish wife in London cope with separation? By Maureen Alcorn
Jackals by Night, Crows by Day will be performed at Lion and The Unicorn on 10th, 12th and 14th October and and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Sunday 23rd October.
1955 Archway:
Body and Blood Aileen arrives in 1950s London from the west coast of Ireland in search of her runaway sister. But will she be tempted to stay herself or else go home to face the arranged marriage that drove Maeve away? By Lorraine Mullaney
Body and Blood will be performed Lion and The Unicorn on 11th, 13th and 15th October and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Saturday 22nd October
1971 Camden
Just Above Dogs : Brothers Mikey and Dec arrived in 1970s Camden on the promise of a start in the building trade. Forty years on and estranged from each other, one brother lives in a hostel for the homeless while the other is a wealthy building contractor. What happened in the intervening years? By Anne Curtis
Just Above Dogs will be performed Lion and The Unicorn on 12th, 15th and 16th October and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Friday 21st October. West London Trade Union Club 4th and 5th November
2006 Catford
Importance of Being Until two years ago Maeve Dennehy’s garden was the best kept on the estate, now volunteer be-friender Dawn must climb across junk and piles of newspapers to enter the flat. What happened to cause this change? By Anne Curtis
Importance of Being will be performed Lion and The Unicorn on 12th (matinee and evening and 14th October and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Saturday 22ndOctober.
2016 Wembley
Women’s Work Nora, 80, has forgotten that she’s Irish; her 25 year old granddaughter Eilis was born in London but think she’s Irish. Stuck in the middle is Moya. How will these three generations of women survive the Easter weekend together? By Anna May Mangan
Woman’s Work will be performed Lion and The Unicorn on 11th, 13th and 15th October and at the Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD on Sunday 23rd October.