Great War Theatre

For Schools

The Great War Theatre project offers work packs, bespoke workshops, and talks for schools. These can be delivered remotely or in person. If you would like to find out more about this please get in touch. 

Example Workpack 1. Recruiting Soldiers: A Call to Arms by Bertrand Davis (1914)

A Call to Arms is a short play (6 pages) written and first performed in September 1914, only a month after war had broken out. You can download a transcript of the script here as a word document and use it in the classroom. You could try performing it in a small group, or you can use it as a basis for the following questions and activities.

Read the Script and answer the following questions:

  1. What reasons are given for Britain going to war?
  2. Why does Harry decide to enlist?
  3. Do you think the play would have been effective in making men in the audience enlist?

Activities:

  1. Experiment with different tunes to accompany the two songs in the play. What kinds of tunes work best?
  2. List the reasons for and against enlisting given in the play. Which argument is most effective? What other reasons could be added to this list?
  3. Using the internet, research the job of a recruiting sergeant.
  4. When the Lord Chamberlain licensed a play for performance one of his officials had to write a summary of the play. You can find examples of these summaries by searching the database. Write a short summary of this play commenting on any aspects which would or would not make it appropriate for audiences at the time.

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Example Workpack 2. Propaganda on the Home Front: My Superior Officer by Michael Morton (1916)

My Superior Officer is a one-act play (18 pages) first performed in November 1916, towards the end of the Battle of the Somme. You can download a copy of the original script here in pdf format. You can reproduce and use the script in the classroom. You could try performing it in a small group, or you can use it as a basis for the following questions and activities.

Read the Script and answer the following questions:

  1. What is Dick angry about when he gets home from the hospital?
  2. What is the play telling audiences to do?
  3. Do you think the play would have been effective in making audiences take action?

Activities:

  1. Write a letter from Dick to his mates in the trenches explaining what happened when he came home.
  2. Research War Savings and find out why it was important for people to save their money during the war.
  3. Read or act the play out from p.14 where Jim says ‘Tell us about the trenches’. What emotions are felt by the characters at each point?
  4. Read the Examiner of Plays’ summary at the start of the script. Do you agree with what they have written about the play? Why?