Britain's What's On Event Guide
The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman
The Children’s Hour is a superb play – and that’s no word of a lie!
In today’s scary and confusing world, fake news and malicious scams abound, fed by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence. They are the evil of the hour. But in the latest production at the Barn Theatre, WGC, set in a New England boarding school for girls in the 1930’s, the result of one spiteful young pupil’s monstrous lie has equally shattering life changing consequences.
For director, Steve Thompson, The Children’s Hour “is an underrated gem that has not been performed as often as it should be. I loved it from the first time I was involved in a play reading many years ago. Its theme is just as modern and relevant today.
Lillian Hellmann, who based the story of The Children’s Hour on an actual case, ranks among the most famous and controversial of American playwrights. She never shied away from provocative, social justice-based themes. The theme of The Children’s Hour about two women accused of having a lesbian affair, was considered so shocking that some members of the Pulitzer Prize committee refused to see it, costing it a nomination.
A black and white film version of The Children’s Hour was released in 1961, starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner. More recently this play has enjoyed two successful revivals in the UK; first at the Royal Exchange Manchester starring Maxine Peake (‘Silk’) and then in the West End starring Keira Knightly (‘Atonement’) and Elizabeth Moss (‘the Handmaid’s Tale’).
In today’s scary and confusing world, fake news and malicious scams abound, fed by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence. They are the evil of the hour. But in the latest production at the Barn Theatre, WGC, set in a New England boarding school for girls in the 1930’s, the result of one spiteful young pupil’s monstrous lie has equally shattering life changing consequences.
For director, Steve Thompson, The Children’s Hour “is an underrated gem that has not been performed as often as it should be. I loved it from the first time I was involved in a play reading many years ago. Its theme is just as modern and relevant today.
Lillian Hellmann, who based the story of The Children’s Hour on an actual case, ranks among the most famous and controversial of American playwrights. She never shied away from provocative, social justice-based themes. The theme of The Children’s Hour about two women accused of having a lesbian affair, was considered so shocking that some members of the Pulitzer Prize committee refused to see it, costing it a nomination.
A black and white film version of The Children’s Hour was released in 1961, starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner. More recently this play has enjoyed two successful revivals in the UK; first at the Royal Exchange Manchester starring Maxine Peake (‘Silk’) and then in the West End starring Keira Knightly (‘Atonement’) and Elizabeth Moss (‘the Handmaid’s Tale’).
Fri 14 Nov to Saturday 22 November
The Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 6ST
The Children’s Hour runs at the Barn Theatre, Handside Lane WGC from 14th-22 November with a matinee on the second Saturday. Tickets available from www.barntheatre.co.uk
Organised by
Barn Theatre Club, Welwyn Garden City
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