Palace Theatre, Preston

The Preston Herald, 19 December 1914, advertised at the Palace Theatre, Preston on Monday 21 December and during the week (Christmas Day excepted), for the first time in Preston, ‘Hilda Beverley will present an Entirely New and Original Melodrama, founded on the events of the present European Conflict, entitled: “When There Was War!”’ ‘The greatest drama that the world conflict has as yet produced is the holiday attraction at the re-opening of the Palace Theatre next week, in Miss Hilda Beverley’s presentation of Joseph M. Wharncliffe’s thrilling “When There Was War.” This stirring stage presentation the horrors and glory of conflict in the “Blonde Beast” is not an old play touch-up and re-christened, but an entirely new work, inspired by actual facts of the world war, and in large part reviewing incidents that have already been recorded in the Press. It is to the stage what Zola’s “Downfall” is in literature, the great work on war, and like Zola, it faces facts bravely and without flinching. It is a play of gripping intensity that needs and has obtained a powerful caste of first class artistes, including Jackson Plant, Jack Armitage, Wallace Black, Maggie Sadler, Mary Brammer, and the great Hilda Beverley herself in the difficult role of “Gretchen Gesner,” head of the German espionage system. W. G. Webber, the well-known vocalist, will introduce an interesting feature in his national and patriotic songs ... all members of the allied forces in uniform will be admitted at half price at any performance on the first four evenings the week, whilst on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday seats will be reserved entirely free of charge for all wounded soldiers and Belgium refugees ... This kindly thought for our gallant defenders and no less gallant allies is deserving of the highest commendation. It is in such seemingly small matters that the true spirit of the English is revealed to those alien to our shores’ (Preston Herald, 19 December 1914).