SYNOPSIS
Carrie’s War – Apollo Theatre
The story of childhood in a small Welsh village during the Second World War!
During the Second World War thousands of children were evacuated into the country to protect them against the constant air raids at that time.
This was a strange and yet exciting time for many children who were uprooted from everything familiar and thrust into that was for many, an alien environment.
In this story we see one such evacuee, Carrie and her brother Nick who are sent to the country for safety. They end up in a small Welsh village and are billeted at the home of grocer Mr Evans and his sister, ‘Auntie Lou’.
Mr Evans is a grumpy man and a bully and the children try to keep out of his way. However, his sister or Auntie Lou is altogether different. She is a kindly soul who welcomes the children and genuinely cares for their welfare. She makes up for her brother’s meanness by being extra kind and loving towards them.
In spite of this it might have been a difficult time except for the village ‘witch’ Hepzibah Green, Johnny Gotobed and another evacuee, Albert Sandwich. They all live at the home of Dilys Gotobed, Mr Evans’ other sister who is now widowed and dying. She was previously married to a wealthy mine owner and lived in luxury until their money ran out. They live in the amusingly named Druid’s Bottom.
She is cared for by her wise and caring housekeeper Hepzibah Green who is reputed to be a witch- in Albert’s eyes anyway. Albert Sandwich is another young evacuee, about the same age as Carrie and Nick and he too lives there along with the retarded Johnny Gotobed – Dilys Gotobed’s son.
Is Hepzibah really a witch? She has the power to look into a person’s soul and is shrewd as well as all knowing. She is however, a kind-hearted person who is concerned with the welfare of her charges. She welcomes Carrie and Nick into the house and in this setting, all sorts of things happen.
What is the story behind the ‘screaming skull’ that lies in the library in this house? Legend has it that if this skull is removed than disaster will fall upon Druid’s Bottom. But, how much of this is true and how much of it is down to Albert’s over active imagination?
The story is about Carrie’s relationship with these different people and her experiences of growing up in a totally different environment.
Many evacuees had to adapt to their new situation and some found easier than others. Carrie too has to learn to adapt and she does so. She makes a few mistakes on the way but then doesn’t everyone?
Carrie’s War opens on the 18th June 2009 and runs until the 12th September 2009.
