Theatre News

Nick Hancock, Charlie Clements and Danny Walters to star in The Greater Game

The play about a football team volunteering in WWI opens at Southwark Playhouse next month

Nick Hancock and Charlie Clements
Nick Hancock and Charlie Clements

Casting has been announced for The Greater Game which will open at Southwark Playhouse next month.

Nick Hancock, best known for presenting They Think It’s All Over and Room 101, will star as Billy Holmes, the manager of football team Leyton Orient (then known as Clapton Orient) who volunteered en masse to fight during WW1.

Charlie Clements (best known for his role as Bradley Branning in EastEnders) will play the team's captain Fred 'Spider' Parker, and Danny Walters (Benidorm) will play Nolan 'Peggy' Evans.

The play is based on a true story told in the book They Took The Lead, and runs at the theatre as part of the commemorations of the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. It is sponsored by The Royal British Legion and supported by the Professional Footballers' Association.

The cast of the play also includes Peter Hannah (A Clockwork Orange) as Richard McFadden, Will Howard (Turf) as William Jonas, Graeme McKnight (Outlaws) as George Scott, Michael Head (Bring the Jubilee) as Herbert 'Jumbo' Reason, Greg Baxter (The Comedy of Errors and A Taste of Honey ) as Jimmy Hugall,
Laura Webb (In Touch) as Mrs Jonas, Pasty Lowe (City of Angels) as Mrs Mac, Connor Kelly (Billy Elliot) Charlie Reason and Charlie Eales (Oliver) as the teenage soldier.

The play is written by Michael Head and will be directed by Tilly Vosburgh.

The Greater Game runs at the Southwark Playhouse from 19 September to 15 October with previews from 15 September.