Joyce Holliday’s play tells the story of the Sheffield Blitz from the people who lived through it, with much humour and using songs of the era
The author was a Sheffield lady, and had the play performed in the Crucible in 1987. She also came to watch us, and we have a photo with Viv! Sadly, this would be one of her final appearances, as she died in early 2002, aged 70
The play was directed and produced by Viv Stuart. Many new people joined for the show: Jane and David Challenger, Lesley Vere, Mick Travis and Adam Ritchie (borrowed from Panto) and Jenny Jones. Several children also took part: Anthony Ashton, Amy Wright, Hayley Frost, Tom Wilson and Michael Frain. Another newcomer Judith Wright was also cast, but had to bow out at the last minute due to a family bereavement. She would return for “Party Piece” in the following May. This seems to be the last involvement of Philip Clayton, as “Grandad/loudspeaker”, after 31 years
A local teacher brought her Year 6 class to watch because they were studying aspects of World War 2
As well as a secondary part as “The Old Codger”, Steve Vere played Tom the bus driver, which he loved. He recalls Tom’s powerful reminiscence of driving up The Moor and seeing the German bombers lit up in the night sky
