Synopsis
An August Bank Holiday Lark
Published by Methuen
Large Mixed Cast
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
Set during the idyllic summer of 1914 in rural Lancashire, everyone in the community is excited about Wakes week ...
... a much-needed 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 soon will
Through the lens of traditional rural life, this bitter-sweet play follows the stories of the villagers and witnesses their personal transitions from exuberance to touching naivety as they manage their loss with courage and humanity