Theatre News

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme to be performed at Somme battlefield

Frank McGuiness’ play will be part of official commemorations for the Battle of the Somme

Marcus Lamb, Iarla McGowan and Paul Kennedy in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
Marcus Lamb, Iarla McGowan and Paul Kennedy in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
© Johan Persson

Jeremy Herrin's production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme will be performed at the Somme battlefield in June as part of official commemorations to mark the Battle of the Somme.

On 29 June, Frank McGuinness' play will run at The Ulster Memorial Tower in Thiepval, located opposite Thiepval Wood where the 36th (Ulster) Division made its historic charge on 1 July 1916.

On 30 June there will be a full performance at the Maison de la Culture in Amiens, the capital of the Somme department and the site of heavy fighting during World War I.

The revival of McGuinness' play is a co-production between Headlong, The Abbey Theatre, Citizens Theatre and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and is currently touring throughout Ireland and the UK until October 2016.

Herrin, Headlong's artistic director, commented: "It's an honour that our co-production will be part of these commemorations and it'll be incredibly moving to present this play on the site where these characters met their fate. Like all great plays, Frank McGuinness's masterpiece argues for empathy and trades in understanding. And that seems a fitting response to the nature and scale of the sacrifice in the Somme and how it has resonated down the century both in France, in Ireland and in the UK."

Read our review of the production here.