This powerful and moving true story of Violette Szabo was premiered on 20 th to 22 nd June at The Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury.
Some of the comments received:
“A tremendous play. I congratulate you all. My guest from America was very impressed. Hopefully, we can use you at some of our future Wartime events” Eddie Jones, of The Trench Experience
“Excellent entertainment. Well done all” Eileen Coombes of Sunbury Neighbours “
They did a great job with a difficult subject. We greatly enjoyed it” Clive Stevens, Radio Wey
“It was a terrific play, and everybody was magnificent. You all captured the feel of the characters excellently. Violette was fantastic and did justice to the part, and Mr Bushell were just as we imagined, from our family stories. The two narrators were fantastic. We cannot stop talking about it. Loved the poem! It was , indeed, a mission as well as a play. It should go onto the professional stage...” Mrs Janet Miller ,daughter of Mr Charles Bushell’s cousin,
Douglas Buckingham “
I don’t normally like plays, but I loved that one. And Edith nearly made me wet myself!” Peter Baxter, Chelsea FC Scout
“Brilliantly written and well presented. We were deeply moved. Congratulations. We look forward to the next one” Rev John Salmon.
"A most moving and memorable evening" Dr Peter Newman
Review from journalist John Whitbread:
THERE was a time when frothy, undemanding light comedy was the staple fare for amateur dramatic companies, writes John Whitbread.
But not now – judging by Manor Players' ambitious and highly successful three-night production of an often dark and constantly thought-provoking wartime drama Violette, at Sunbury's Riverside Arts Centre.
This original play, researched, written and directed adroitly by Geoffrey Buckingham, is based on a true World War Two story of a young Englishwoman of French descent who takes on the odds and the misogyny of the time to become a British secret agent.
She is driven to risk her life behind enemy lines by a desire to see Europe rescued from Nazi tyranny and to avenge the early death of her French army husband.
Jeniffer Hazell proved convincing in the unfolding central role of the
eponymous heroine as she develops from rather naive teenager to mature wife and mother and eventually brave and ultimately defiant resistance fighter.
With a big story to be told in just two hours, the pace of the production was crucial and it was driven skilfully by Sue Ford as the front-stage narrator, who managed to maintain both the flow and the audience's attention, while some quick and tricky scene changes went on behind the curtain.
Among an excellent supporting cast, Dawn Bradley provided some needed ight relief as Violette's blousy best friend Edith, while Alan Saunders was convincing as the stereotypically proud but anxious father. Rather like dark chocolate, Violette was all the more enjoyable for its added depth and complexity.
There are several possible pitfalls in taking such a gamble – but the
audience's rousing final curtain applause and post-production praise proved it was a risk well worth taking.
