Wilfred Owen musical is a West End sell-out (From Wirral Globe)
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Wilfred Owen musical is a West End sell-out
12:05pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in News By Craig Manning
Portrait of Wilfred Owen
THE London West End premiere of a Wirral musical about First World War poet Wilfred Owen has sold out.
Bullets And Daffodils tells the story of his short time in the borough and even contains a song called Welcome To Birkenhead.
Created by Oxton musician Dean Johnson, it will be staged at the Jermyn Street Theatre near Covent Garden this Sunday, July 29.
Owen's iconic poems are set to music in the production, which features actor Christopher Timothy, who played vet James Herriot in BBC drama All Creatures Great And Small, and Graeme Clark from 80s band Wet Wet Wet.
Also in the cast is Chloe Torpey, a rising star of Wirral's acting scene who has been described as the next Glenda Jackson.
Dean, a lifelong fan of Wilfred's work, said: “The first performance of Bullets And Daffodils was at the Birkenhead Central Library just under two years ago.
"To have a sell-out show in the West End during the Olympics is very exciting.”
The play explores Wilfred's relationship with his mother through his letters, poetry and his life's events.
It has two characters, Wilfred and his mother Susan, and is set in a Victorian sitting room.
The dialogue is interspersed with songs written and performed by Dean. The play has the full support of the Wilfred Owen Association.
Looking forward to taking the show to the West End, Dean said recently: "It's development has been really fast and I'm delighted that we’ve made it to London.
"Jermyn Street is quite an intimate theatre, which is very well known for staging premieres, so to have the chance to appear there is a huge honour."
The original production premiered in Birkenhead Central Library in 2010 and has since been staged at a number of Wirral venues.
A host of well known actors including ex-Brookside actor Dean Sullivan and Hoylake-based writer/producer John Gorman have appeared in the show.
But, as Dean Johnson explained, the West End show promises some changes. He said: "The production is almost unrecognisable from how it was in the early days."
Born in Oswestry in 1893, Wilfred was brought up in Birkenhead and is recognised as one of the greatest voices of the First World War.
He also has a road named after him, on the former site of Birkenhead Institute, which is now a housing estate.
In 1915, he enlisted in the British Army and was killed, aged 25, on November 4, 1918, during the battle to cross the Sambre-Oise canal at Ors in Northern France.
At the time of his death he was virtually unknown. Only four of his poems were published during his lifetime.
But he had always been determined to be a poet and had experimented with verse from an early age.
Among his 62 poems are 1914, Dulce et decorum est and Anthem For Doomed Youth.
The next local performance of the musical is at The Heswall Festival in October.
Comments(25)
Lurkinhead
says...
4:47pm Tue 24 Jul 12
Probably not I guess, as there is no reason for her to, is there?
Dantealighieri
says...
11:11pm Tue 24 Jul 12
remember the past preserve the future
says...
12:15am Wed 25 Jul 12
I find it flabergasting that yet again Dean Johnson gets free publicity
It's time you came out and declared what your vested interest is
A sell out performance in a 70 seat thearte please
It's becoming tedious now the globes constant backing of this man now
No other project on the wirral gets the free publicity he does.
Time for a front page expose of what your links to Dean Johnson are
I can guess but would rather you come clean
Leigh Marles
says...
12:30pm Wed 25 Jul 12
For the record and as a matter of pure fact, I have never even spoken to, let alone met, Dean Johnson.
The Globe gives "free publicity" to any number of local artistic endeavours.
It's a big part of what we and most other local newspapers do.
This case is no different.
As far as Tranmere Rovers' Ingleborough Fields planning application is concerned (which is what this is really all about) the Globe is a dispassionate observer recording the facts of the matter and allowing supporters and objectors equally to state their case.
Leigh Marles,
Editor.
Lurkinhead
says...
3:35pm Wed 25 Jul 12
Regarding the Ingleborough Road / Woodchurch planning process, I think the difficulty a significant number of those who support the application have, is that Dean Johnson has a clear conflict of interests over this issue.
Now clearly it would be wrong to place a value on motives - the only person who can honestly answer that is Dean Jonhnson himself - but that's just the thing with conflicts of interest isn't it.
Specifically in this instance, what is not in dispute is that Dean Johnson has various business interests to promote, such as the Wilfred Owen Museum, the musical that the article refers to, and his own career.
By the way, at this point, I have no problem wishing the man good luck with all of those ventures.
However, his involvement in the Ingleborough Road campaign must raise questions as regards whether this could serve to raise his profile, provide much need publicity, & assist in promoting his various business ventures..
Now of course motivation for any action is a moot point, but given the specific circumstances here, personally, I am surprised that Dean Johnson seemingly has the ear of The Globe with such regularity as regards the Ingleborough Road issue. Can I ask, since this issue originally surfaced, how many Globe articles have included a picture of Dean Johnson himself, as opposed to any of the other objectors to the planning proposal?
I can accept your assertion of neutrality in the Ingleborough debate, but surely you must be aware of the sensitive nature of the conflict of interests, and I am just surprised that given this, you have allowed the situation with Dean Johnson to continue.
Nobody is disputing this is a very important issue, and that there are a wide range of reasonable views on all sides that should be heard, but nevertheless, allowing one man such a major platform, given his potential gain from the situation, is what gives cause for concern I think.
yogz66
says...
5:43pm Fri 27 Jul 12
i'd say, all 70 seats of it.
available, on sundays, for £390.
this is not a story. this play has not been attracted to the west end due to it's popularity, but because it's writer has paid to hire the venue. would we see the same level of comiment to the 'story' if it was being put on in a church hall on the woodchurch estate? i doubt it.
remember the past preserve the future
says...
7:08pm Fri 27 Jul 12
That then obviously suit the globes agenda to make our Dean the bill kenwright of birkenhead
Sad. Really
remember the past preserve the future
says...
7:08pm Fri 27 Jul 12
That then obviously suit the globes agenda to make our Dean the bill kenwright of birkenhead
Sad. Really
remember the past preserve the future
says...
7:12pm Fri 27 Jul 12
I'll start writing the musical now Mr marles.
Kristopher
says...
12:20pm Sat 28 Jul 12
Less of a businessman making money out of a protest (Mr Johnson) and more from residents, for and against. Plus please not 'Serena T', who may or may not work for Mr Johnson. Balance in local journalism? What was it a famous actor once said (about the theatre)... Not at the Globe my dear...
Kristopher
says...
10:29pm Sat 28 Jul 12
spamfiend
says...
11:15am Sun 29 Jul 12
Lurkinhead
says...
10:02pm Sun 29 Jul 12
(1) FAO Dean Johnson.
As you haven't responded in the other thread, I just wonder if either "This Land is Your Land", or maybe "A Pox Upon Thine House" are contained in your West End stage play? Maybe that's why they were both deleted from your youtobe playlist - to keep them under wraps for the big occasion?
(2) FAO Leigh Marles
Can I just check with you - you know earlier when you said "I have never even spoken to, let alone met, Dean Johnson", whilst I of course accept accept that reassurance, can all the other Globe journalists also clarify that Dean Johnson doesn't have their ear, and that any relationship is purely business & not friendship based?
yogz66
says...
11:10pm Sun 29 Jul 12
yogz66
says...
11:10pm Sun 29 Jul 12
Crackers3
says...
12:45am Mon 30 Jul 12
Orville_Magoon wrote:Perhaps when Mr Johnson returns from the ovations of the 70+ crowd 200 miles away, he'll find time to mentor his mouthpieces on how to rubbish TRFC a bit further. Addition special coaching on how to dodge questions that a) don't suit the agenda or b) expose what suspect lengths this attention seeker will go over the whole Ingleborough issue. For b) I refer to the "image" he's put up of the gravestones on the field, the origins of said images, and the crassness of this as a focal point of what is turning into what I see as quite a dirty campaign.
Leigh Marles wrote:You might not have met him Ms Marles but your chief reported Craig Manning certain has. Craig Manning is even personally thanked on Mr Johnson's Wilfred Owen website for all the 'help and support' he's given. Hardly the acts of as dispassionate, impartial 'reporter'.
"Vested interest"?
For the record and as a matter of pure fact, I have never even spoken to, let alone met, Dean Johnson.
The Globe gives "free publicity" to any number of local artistic endeavours.
It's a big part of what we and most other local newspapers do.
This case is no different.
As far as Tranmere Rovers' Ingleborough Fields planning application is concerned (which is what this is really all about) the Globe is a dispassionate observer recording the facts of the matter and allowing supporters and objectors equally to state their case.
Leigh Marles,
Editor.
How about supporting your local, community football club rather than playing to the vanity of a self serving, publicity seeker like Mr Johnson.
yogz66
says...
1:00am Mon 30 Jul 12
yogz66
says...
1:04am Mon 30 Jul 12
.com has been removed.
such a wonderful positive story when it was ran, yet a little digging unearthed one that was a shade different.
perhaps the globe should start employing reporters who actually research the story first, rather than publishing soundbites.
yogz66
says...
1:05am Mon 30 Jul 12
yogz66 wrote:wilfred owen
that 'image' is of the dunkirk town cemetery. wilfred owem is buied at the ors communal cemetery, around 60 miles away!
it was a mistype.....
wirral1981
says...
9:39am Mon 30 Jul 12
The generalised abuse that's been sent to Tranmere fans in general is disgraceful and I'm sure slanderous when you consider the untruths that have both been included in articles and comments on this wall.
I find it deeply offensive that it's been posted that Tranmere supporters are going to hell.
I also find it strange that this whole situation has distracted from the fact that the Wirral will be getting a brand new leisure centre in Birkenhead, something that's been badly needed.
I completely agree that we need to remember the past, and we should work together to ensure that a suitable war memorial is maintained, but the future of our borough will be based upon the wellbeing of its populace, which will be greatly enhanced if this scheme proceeds.
Gingerthinker
says...
11:32am Mon 30 Jul 12
Can you run a story on how the owner of a website entitled 'The Wilfred Owen Story' is using a photoshopped picture of Ingleborough field showing actual French war graves situated in one corner, in what can only be a blatant attempt at misleading the public.
I can't believe you continue to give this man the kind of publicity he craves while he stoops this low simply to make money out of dead soldiers...
Let's have some balance and ask the questions as to why he's doing what he is doing...as it seems pretty obvious to me.
spamfiend
says...
7:35pm Mon 30 Jul 12
'The dialogue is interspersed with songs written and performed by Dean. The play has the full support of the Wilfred Owen Association'
Just so you know they are both one and the same so pretty obvious it will have the 'full support'!
yogz66
says...
10:50pm Mon 30 Jul 12
the wilfred owen association is NOT the wilfred owen story.
Action Man
says...
12:59am Sat 4 Aug 12
Reremnart says...
3:48pm Tue 24 Jul 12