Cast: David Birrell in Octagon's Journey's End

The Octagon Theatre Bolton's new season begins with Journey’s End directed by David Thacker. Programmed to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the cast are currently in rehearsals.

The cast includes James Dutton, who will be making his Octagon Theatre debut, in the role of Captain Stanhope. James will be no stranger to the issues addressed in Journey’s End having recently played Sergeant Goodall in Our World War on BBC3: a series based entirely on the 100-year-old testimonies of the soldiers who fought on the front line.

Richard Graham will play the role of Trotter. Richard will be renewing his working relationship with David Thacker having last worked together in theatre in David’s West End production of An Enemy of the People.

Playing the role of Osborne is David Birrell. David recently appeared at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre as Agamemnon in The Last Days of Troy, and also played the title role in Sweeney Todd recently.

Tristan Brooke returns to the Octagon Theatre playing the role of Raleigh. Tristan appeared at the Octagon earlier this year in Twelfth Night and Hobson’s Choice, as well as Tull and Of Mice and Men.

Based on RC Sherriff’s own experience of the First World War, Journey’s End is written with the authenticity and compassion of a soldier who was intimately acquainted with the nightmare of life in the trenches, and the extraordinary courage of those who fought there.

Journey’s End is at the Octagon from 4 September – 4 October 2014.