And Did Those Feet - reviews

Although in reality it isn't that long since And Did Those Feet graced the stage as part of our Anniversary season, seeing it again (despite having seen it four times in 2007) felt good. Really, really good. Despite knowing sections of the script almost by heart I still, genuinely, laughed at the comedy. Particularly, at most things delivered by the wonderful Martin Barrass and also Naomi Radcliffe's dismay at the lack of opportunity to make her perfect day just that.

I think a fair few people in the audience find "something in their eye" when Jerusalem is played at the end, the difference with seeing the show the revival was the emotional impact of the scenes focused around Sue Twist [as Hilda] and her on stage and completely bereft husband, Alf, played by Huw Higginson. I never thought that seeing a grown man bouncing a football with a far away look in his eye and a trembling lip would bring me to tears but it did. I could blame that on being pregnant but it wouldn't be fair to do so. It is due to the heartfelt and very real performances of these great actors. Anyway, enough from me. Here is what the press are saying...

"Mark Babych’s revival of Bolton’s very own play, with universal themes, is an utter joy to behold." THE STAGE Read more here...

"...it is the comedy that is most successful in this play, both in the writing and the performances. Martin Barrass... achieves perfect comic delivery... The comic banter between Mark Letheren as Ted, the superb Naomi Radcliffe as Martha and Curtis Cole as Jim also works very well... Mark Babych keeps the pace well and adds some lovely little touches... great use of sound from sound designer Andy Smith... great fun and at times hilarious, tightly and imaginatively directed and very well performed." BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE Read more here...

"Foxton’s design is reliably wonderful, and it’s a real coup to have Arun Ghosh’s compositions... Naomi Radcliffe is a touching and confused Martha... Susan Twist (always excellent) and Huw Higginson are very impressive... Snappy and well-paced, the play is a copper-bottomed popular hit... a thoroughly agreeable night out." THE PUBLIC REVIEWS Read more here...

"At a time when, to many people, Bolton is struggling as a town, this is the sort of play that can make you really proud of where you live.This is a play for anyone who loves Bolton, its football team or who appreciates plays about social history. I could watch it seven nights a week - it really is that good." THE BOLTON NEWS Read more here...

"Former artistic director Mark Babych returns to the Octagon to deliver a wonderfully textured piece of work that never fails to entertain.And Did Those Feet certainly has that feel-good effect and leaves the audience feeling much happier and even moved by the experience, which, these days, is quite an achievement." WHAT'S ON STAGE Read more here...

"But if you saw the original production, as I did, you will surely welcome the chance to see it again. And if you didn’t, don’t miss it. You don’t have to be a Boltonian and football fan to enjoy it." CITYLIFE Read more here...

"This is an excellent production of a cracking script and a great evening’s entertainment with some moving performances. Having witnessed so many magnificent Octagon productions recently – not least the recent superb Midsummer Night’s Dream - I am sure it will go on to be yet another winner for the Bolton team. Go and see it..." WRITE OUT LOUD Read more here...

"The flashbacks to war are genuinely affecting... But there’s also a great deal of warm northern humour, notably from Martin Barrass reprising his role as eccentric newsagent Bob... revived by its original director Mark Babych... who seems to have added a lustre to an already highly polished product, aided by a revised script... Lesley Hutchinson’s slickly and imaginatively choreographed crowd scenes are a comic treat..." UKTHEATRENET Read more here...

"its appeal’s evident in the rousing cheers and standing applause at the end – not the predetermined yowls of first-night metropolitan cast-friends nor the relieved irony of school-parties, but genuine enthusiasm for a story that touches (indeed, hits fair and square) people’s hearts and minds." REVIEWSGATE Read more here...

And a transcript of the review from Clitheroe Advertiser...

Former artistic director, Mark Babych returns to the Bolton Octagon to direct a revival of a production of And Did Those Feet. He directed the world premiere of this play in 2007. The plot tells the story of the famous FA cup final of 1923 when Bolton Wanderers played West Ham in the first ever final at Wembley Stadium with its iconic twin towers. I have to confess I have little knowledge and even less interest in football. I was raised in a rugby playing family.

However I found myself drawn in and captivated by this play by Les Smith and Martin Thomasson. It is a pleasurable evening of nostalgia and humour with a great feel-good factor. All the Bolton references delight the home audience but even the visitors can enjoy the witty script. The story of Bolton’s triumph is told through the experiences of four men, Bob the endearing comic turn, (Martin Barrass)), brothers Ted, (Mark Letheren) and Jim (Curtis Cole) and Alf (Huw Higginson). Jim is an avowed communist who loses his job. Ted is planning his wedding to Martha (Naomi Radcliffe). Alf, despite the pleas of his wife Hilda (Susan Twist), cannot bear to watch the team since the death of his son Billy (Chris Finch) in the War. Billy appears as a ghost inspiring his father to recall just what the love of one’s team can be.

There are some clever tricks, such as the pastiche of early films and newsreels and some catchy clog dancing that enliven the action and as the climax approached I found myself thrilled with anticipation at the prospect of victory. For a little while I was a real footie fan. This is a heart-warming reminder of a splendid achievement by a Northern Football Team and the Town that made them. (Pippa Munro Henden)

You can book tickets by calling 01204 520661 or clicking here.

And Did Those Feet - production images

I am delighted to report that And Did Those Feet opened last night. I have to admit that I have a huge soft spot for this show and I still think that the press night for the show last time around (during our Anniversary Season in 2007 when the show premiered) was one of the most remarkable atmospheres of any press night I have attended at the theatre.

So here we are on press night afternoon for And Did Those Feet 2010 and I can't wait to see how the show is received this time round. If you have booked for the show but have to wait a few days before you see it here are the production photos...

Wanderers’ Glory Days at the Octagon

Next month the Octagon Theatre is giving you the chance to relive one of the greatest FA Cup moments in the history of the football club.

From Thursday 11 March, the Octagon is turning the clock back to the Trotters’ finest hour with And Did Those Feet. It’s a play tracking the lives of two families on the build up to the club’s appearance at the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley Stadium. And Did Those Feet was written by Wanderers fans and University of Bolton lecturers Les Smith and Martin Thomasson in celebration of the way the famous cup run captured the imagination of the whole town. And a replica of the FA Cup that Wanderers’ captain, Joe Smith, lifted on that memorable day in 1923 has arrived at the Octagon to star in the show.

And to coincide with this memorable production, Wanderers are contributing to an exhibition celebrating the wonderful heritage of the football club. A collection of memorabilia, photographs and paintings will be displayed as part of an exhibition at the theatre before shows.

Mike Needham, Marketing Manager at Bolton Wanderers, comments “We were delighted to find out that the Octagon Theatre had decided to undertake another run of the highly successful play And Did Those Feet. We are proud of our rich heritage and that this story celebrates one of the Club’s greatest achievements. The play was hugely popular with Wanderers fans, young and old, last time and we would urge any supporters who haven’t yet seen it to go and see it.”

For more information or to book visit the website or call the Ticket Office on 01204 520661.

Free tickets to And Did Those Feet

If you are a Wanderers fan you will already know that they are playing at home this weekend against Wolves. We have been given the opportunity by the kind people at BWFC to place an ad for the production (see above) on the video screen at the stadium during the match and I would like a photo of our ad in situ in the stadium.

If you are going to the match this weekend and you are willing to take your camera along you could win yourself a pair of tickets to see the Wanderers in their finest hour, lifting the 1923 FA cup, in our upcoming prodution of And Did Those Feet.

The sender of the first five photos I receive of our ad on the screen at the Reebok stadium will get a pair of free tickets* to see And Did Thsoe Feet which runs from 11 March - 10 April. Send you photos to sally.boyd@octagonbolton.co.uk. *One pair of tickets per sender.

And Did Those Feet - The Replay!

We are excited to soon welcome back one of our most popular plays in recent years: And Did Those Feet by Les Smith and Martin Thomasson. The show played to sell out audiences when it was first performed as part of the theatre’s fortieth anniversary season just over two years ago, and went on to win the Best New Play Award at the MEN Theatre Awards for 2007.

And Did Those Feet tracks the lives of two families in the build up to one of the most monumental days in Bolton’s history: Wanderers’ appearance in the 1923 FA Cup Final, the first to be held at the newly built Wembley Stadium. There’s the couple whose wedding plans are threatened when everyone else, including the Vicar, have their sights set on an even “bigger day” at the final. Then there’s the father mourning his footballer son who died in the Great War. And not to forget Bob Stott, who decides to walk 200 miles to London for the final. But can he really make it there in six days… especially as he has to make the perilous journey through Yorkshire?

Mark Babych, the former Artistic Director of the Octagon, directed And Did Those Feet when it received its world premiere in 2007. He is returning the Octagon for the first time to direct this revival of the play. He said:

“And Did Those Feet was one of the happiest memories I have during my time as Artistic Director of the Octagon and I am extremely honoured to have been invited back to revive the production. The play was an extraordinary success in 2007, touching hearts and connecting deeply with the fabulous Bolton audience. I always knew the play would be popular when we first commissioned it, but I was not prepared for the overwhelming wave of love for it once it had opened and throughout its run. Looking back it’s easy to see why the play touched so many people – memorable characters, emotional storylines, joyous theatricality, and a wicked Lancashire sense of humour all combine to make this a truly Bolton play that celebrates this wonderful town and its strength of community.”

Martin Barrass returns as Bob Stott, a performance which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. He is joined by original And Did Those Feet cast members Susan Twist and Chris Finch. The other cast members include Naomi Radcliffe, who played Alison Wakefield in Coronation Street. Huw Higginson, best know for his ten-year spell as PC George Garfield in The Bill, also returns to the Octagon following his performance All My Sons.

And Did Those Feet is at the Octagon from Thursday 11 March to Saturday 10 April 2010. Tickets are from £9. To book call 01204 520661 or visit http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/