The programme was presented in one of London's most iconic spaces - the Crystal Palace Subway, the first time in over 30 years that a cultural event has taken place in this amazing venue. After a moving rendition of Britten/Sitwell's 'Still Falls the Rain', the silence was broken by the sound of approaching bombers; the highlight of the event being an improvisational tap dance by Irène, which you can see here. After the air raid sirens were silenced, our wardens read out the safety instructions. For the duration of the raid we performed:
HOME FRONT
The Monstrous Regiment by Alice Coats, read by Racheal
To a Barrage Balloon by May Morton, read by Steve
A Rose by any Other Name by Kenneth Smith, read by Jazzman John
Point of View by R P Brett, read by Isabel
Evacuee Part 1 by Racheal Joseph, read by the author
Evacuee Part 2 by Edith Pickthall read by Graham
Trainpiece – 1943 by F A Horn, read by Jazzman John
Parting by Gervase Stewart, read by Graham
Vera Lynn’s ‘We'll Meet Again’ by Ross Parker & Hughie Charles, sung by Louise
Sonia Snell by Douglas Ginger, read by Robin
Sonnet to Albert in a Pub on New Year's Eve by Madge Donald, read by Racheal
Dahn the Plug 'Ole by that old favourite ‘Anon’, read by Robin
Salvage Song by Elsie Cawser, read by Isabel
Vera Lynn’s ‘Be Like the Kettle and Sing’ by Tommie Connor, Walter Ridley and Desmond O'Connor, sung by Louise
Securing a bunk – a local reminiscence by Jean and Alan (archives), read by Louise
AWAY AT THE FRONT
Com-bloody-parisons by Kevin McHale, read by Robin
Love Letters of the Dead by Douglas Street, read by Graham
D Day Dodgers (Lily Marlene) by ‘Anon’ sung by Robin
L.R.D.G. (Long Range Desert Group) by J.G. Meddemmen, read by Steve
SELF IMPROVEMENT
Me Old China by Steve Tasane, read by the author
Maps by W J Harvey, read by Graham
Naming of Parts by Henry Reed, read by Robin & Isabel
The Lambeth Walk by Gay & Furber – limbering up with Irene, accompanied by Louise
AFTER THE INTERVAL
Direct Hit – a local reminiscence by Jean and Alan (archives), read by Louise
BEFORE THE RAID
The Chinese in London during the war, introduced by Steve
The Great Wave Breaks on the Shore by Hua Yanjun, played by Rosemary
Steve makes a stirring plea for support for the Free French Forces
Courage by Paul Éluard, read by Irène
THE RAID
Still Falls the Rain, poem by Edith Sitwell, music Canticle No III by Benjamin Britten, performed by Anna, Jon and Isabel
The Air Raid will be demonstrated by Irène with assistance from the company
Boxed In by John Clarke read by the author
Slough by John Betjeman read by Steve
Sonic Gift by John Clarke read by the author
Britten Serenade Prologue by Benjamin Britten, performed by Anna & Jon
Ode to Autumn 3rd Stanza by John Keats read by Isabel
Sonata, 3rd Movement by York Bowen performed by Anna & Jon
A Clippie’s Story – a local reminiscence by Jean and Alan (archives) read by Louise
AFTER THE RAID
For Johnny by John Pudney, read by Jazzman John
To a German Airman by Brian Gallie, performed by Graham
Killed in Action by Juliette De Bairacli-Levy, read by Racheal
EPILOGUE
Dreaming about the end of the War by Graham Campbell, read by the author
Vera Lynn’s When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World by Bennie Benjamin and Sol Marcus, sung by Louise
City of Benares – a family story by Isabel White, performed by Isabel and Racheal
FINALE – A Minute’s Silence (Audience & Performers)
The Last Post
Closing theme - Bowen’s 1st Movement by York Bowen, performed by Anna
Some of the poems reproduced and performed were written for this event by the readers, others from Chaos of the Night, an Anthology of Women’s Poetry from the Second World War, selected by Catherine Reilly, published by Virago, and Poems of the Second World War – the Oasis Selection, published by Dent. Courage by Paul Éluard was published by New Directions Books in association with Librairie Gallimard, Paris.
We are grateful to Andy Stem of Bambino for the loan of props, to all our volunteers, Friends of Crystal Palace Subway and for Rachel D’Cruze, for being there! Research courtesy of the archives of the Imperial War Museum, Friends of the Subway and West Norwood Library.