''We Happy Few'' is a 2004

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

Imogen Stubbs Imogen Stubbs (born 20 February 1961) is an English actress and writer. Her first leading part was in '' Privileged'' (1982), followed by '' A Summer Story'' (1988). Her first play, ''We Happy Few'', was produced in 2004. In 2008 she joined ' ...

. It follows a group of female actors touring

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

plays round the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. It is based on

Nancy Hewins Margaret Nancy Hewins (14 February 1902 – 17 January 1978) was a British theatre director and actress. She founded the first all-woman theatre troupe who toured the UK presenting Shakespeare particularly to schools. Life Hewins was born in Lond ...

' touring group, the Osiris Players. Its title quotes the

St Crispin's Day Speech The St Crispin's Day speech is a part of William Shakespeare's history play '' Henry V'', Act IV Scene iii(3) 18–67. On the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, which fell on Saint Crispin's Day, Henry V urges his men, who were vastly outnumbered ...

from ''Henry V''.

Premiere

Originally written and performed in 2003 at Malvern Theatres, it was further developed into the play which opened in London in 2004. The play was based on the Osiris Players who were the first professional all-woman theatre company founded by

. The play's London premiere was directed by Stubbs' husband

Trevor Nunn Sir Trevor Robert Nunn (born 14 January 1940) is an English theatre director and lyricist. He has been the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has dir ...

at the

Gielgud Theatre The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, at the corner of Rupert Street, in the City of Westminster, London. The house currently has 994 seats on three levels. The theatre was designed by W. G. R. Sprague and ...

and starred

Juliet Stevenson Juliet Anne Virginia Stevenson, (born 30 October 1956) is an English actress of stage and screen. She is known for her role in the film '' Truly, Madly, Deeply'' (1991), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Le ...

and

Patsy Palmer Julie Anne Merkell (''née'' Harris; born 26 May 1972), known professionally as Patsy Palmer, is a British actress and DJ. After appearing as Natasha in the children's drama series ''Grange Hill'' (1985–1987), she came to prominence for her p ...

. It opened on Tuesday 29 June 2004 but, though planned to run to November 2004, poor audience figures and critical or lukewarm reviews led to it closing at the end of July 2004. The play was again performed in Malvern in 2012.

Original cast

- Hettie Oaks, leader of the troupe *

Marcia Warren Marcia Warren (born 26 November 1943) is an English stage, film and television actress. On stage, she appeared in '' Blithe Spirit'' as Madame Arcati and '' The Sea'' (2008) at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. In 2022 and 2023, she starred as Que ...

- Flora Pelmet, co-founder of the troupe *

Kate O'Mara Kate O'Mara (born Frances Meredith Carroll;Michael CoveneObituary: Kate O'Mara ''The Guardian'', 30 March 2014 10 August 1939 – 30 March 2014) was an English film, stage and television actress, and writer. O'Mara made her stage debut in a 19 ...

- Helen, alcoholic children's radio presenter and frustrated actress *

- Charlotte, Cockney tomboy, latterly Rosalind's girlfriend *

Caroline Blakiston Caroline Georgiana Blakiston (born 13 February 1933) is an English actress. She is best known for her role in the British television comedy series ''Brass (TV series), Brass'' and to international audiences as Mon Mothma in the ''Star Wars'' fil ...

- Jocelyn, stage manager * Paul Bentley - Reggie Pelmet, Flora's cousin * Rosemary McHale - Gertrude, German Jewish refugee * Adam Davy - Joseph Rosenbaum, Gertrude's son * Cat Simmons - Ivy, Joseph's girlfriend * Emma Darwall-Smith - Rosalind, new RADA graduate, Helen's daughter

Publication

The play was published (and is licensed for amateur performance) by

Nick Hern Books Nick Hern Books is a London-based independent specialist publisher of Play (theatre), plays, theatre books and screenplays. The company was founded by the former Methuen Publishing, Methuen drama editor Nicholas Hern in 1988. History Nick Hern ...

, London.

Notes

{{reflist

External links

Review of the play's premiere
2004 plays