Story follows passage of war for lifelong friends

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A musical drama commemorating the First World War and in particular The Battle of the Somme is to be performed in Ashford this autumn.

A Day’s Work has been written by well-known scriptwriter, composer and singer Mick Ryan from Bournemouth.

The show tells the story of a group of lifelong friends who, on the eve of The Great War, gather to discuss the impending conflict.

The group is made up of farm labourers and performers in the small rural village’s Mummers’ play and they consider if they will leave their traditions behind them and answer the call to arms.

They also wonder what awaits them as the fighting moves remorselessly towards the Battle of the Somme – one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

For five months from July 1, 1916, the British and French armies engaged the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front. The aims of the battle were to relieve the French Army fighting at Verdun and to weaken the German Army. However, the Allies were unable to break through German lines and in total there were over one million dead and wounded on all sides.

A Day’s Work, which features specially composed songs and a cast of multi-talented and highly respected performers, has been acclaimed wherever it has been performed across the country.

The cast for this commemorative show comprises Heather Bradford, Paul Downes, Pete Morton, Matt Quinn, Ciaran Algar, Greg Russell and Mick Ryan.

Tenterden Folk Festival has partnered with Revelation St Mary’s to put this show on at Ashford’s 350-seater town centre venue, St Mary’s Church, on Saturday, November 26. This major event to commemorate The Great War is sponsored by Ashford Borough Council.

Tickets are now available, priced £14 for adults (on the door £17) and £5 for accompanied under 16s (on the door £8). Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.45pm.

For more on how and where to buy tickets email info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

The cast of A Day’s Work coming to Ashford