Tom Brown’s School Days - a ★★★★ retold timeless classic!

☆★★★★ Tom Brown’s School Days

Based on Thomas Hughes’ 1857 novel, Tom Brown’s School Days, Phil Willmott’s new adaptation is a cleverly-constructed play with music. It sets the timeless classic of public school life amongst a generation who will go on to fight in the Battle of Britain.

Tom Brown, arriving late at Rugby school, is faced with traditions that were ingrained for generations and seemingly informed the culture of public schools? With bullying, fagging and cruelty to the fore, these were all ostensibly character-building customs and ultimately moulding the ‘formative years of the upper-class young men who’d go on to lead the armed forces to victory’.

Willmott’s production cleverly entwines music which ranges from classical hymns to the popular songs of ‘20s and ’30 such as Please Don’t Talk About Me and Nobody Loves You. These are all performed by an intriguingly talented ensemble of young actors, many making their professional debuts. The production contains a myriad of great performances not only from the younger members of the ensemble but also the more seasoned actors.

Hudson Brown as Tom Brown is convincingly charming, credibly forthright with a palpable aura of charisma and bravery. Sam James Page as East handles the difficulties of trust and tradition with undoubted realism and true depth in his portrayal. James Horne as headmaster Dr. Arnold is plausibly drawn as man of great principles, struggling to work within a framework of long-established, institutionalised convention. Ursula Mohan as Sally gives a joyously bravura performance and is pleasure to watch, so long as a questionable sovereign is pressed into her palm!

Without doubt, this is an erudite production, smartly realised and a welcome beginning to the Essential Classics Season 2020 at Sasha Regan’s Union Theatre.  

Performances

Dates 4th January – 2nd February 2020

Times Tuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm
Saturday @ 2.30pm from January 11th

Tickets

Full Price £22
Concessions £20
Under 18s £15

Book : https://uniontheatre.savoysystems.co.uk/UnionTheatre.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_836.TcsWebTab_837.TcsProgramme_366112

Season Ticket Offer
See Tom Brown’s School Days, Blitz and Peace in Our Time for just £50.
Bookable in Advance until February 1st

Cast and Creatives
Cast

Brown
Hudson Brown

East
Sam James Page

Lofty
Joseph O'Gorman

Spike
Jacob Seelochan

Mopes
Oliver Humphries

Winsteed
Joe Goodhead

Brook
Mikko Juan

Flashman
Alex Mckeon

Sneerwell
Hugh Tappin

Crusher
Jack Donald

Dr. Arnold
James Horne

Grimstead
Toby Wynn-Davies

Mr. Stebbins
Ralph Warman

Sally
Ursula Mohan

Creatives

Director
Phil Wilmott

Assistant
Alex Kirstukas

Musical Director
Ralph Warman

Fight choreographer
Stephen Louis

Designer
Reuben Speed

Lighting Designer
Ben Bull

Costume Designer
Penn O'Gara

Casting Director
Adam Braham

Stage Manager
Toby Burbidge

Producer
Sasha Regan

Associate Producer
Maison Kelley