A la perchoine returns!

Friday 27 September 2019

Having said 'A la perchoine' in 1990 and 1995, some of the former crew and cast are getting together with new performers to put on the historical play again next year to mark the 75th anniversary of Guernsey's liberation.

It was first performed to huge success during the 45th anniversary year, and then repeated to mark 50 years of freedom. Since then it has been fondly remembered by those who helped produce it, those who performed in it and those who watched it on the stage at Beau Sejour.

Now, some of those original cast and crew members are working together to revisit the show, which tells the tale of thousands of school children evacuated from their island home, and in most cases separated from their parents, for five years.

Auditions for solo parts will be held in January, with audition packs available in November.

Pictured: Artwork from the two previous productions of A la perchoine. 

Originally it was the brainchild of two teachers at the then-St Peter Port Secondary School, Martin Cordall and the late John Loaring. Mr Cordall is behind the planned 2020 production of A la perchoine, along with GADOC, the Guernsey Youth and Community Theatre and the Guernsey Music Service.

The 2020 production is to be directed by Martine Wallbridge with musical direction in the hands of Mr Cordall, while Tim Langlois is the project coordinator.

The performances will be held at Beau Sejour, in the sports hall, during the week following the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Channel Islands. There are scheduled to be performances on Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 2020.

Rehearsals are due to start in January with performers from the theatre schools and Music Service likely to take on the starring roles. 

The organisers say all those who want to be involved will be welcome, including offering a chance to those who were in the previous two productions to tread the boards again.

Above: A trailer featuring footage from the 1990 or 1995 performances of A la perchoine. 

"With a projected cast and crew of around 600, the production team will be seeking not only adults and children to appear ‘on stage’ but also a support team to assist with a whole range of tasks," they said. "This will include assistance with props and costume: for example, we will need around 500 gas mask boxes to be constructed and upwards of 100 tank top sweaters to be knitted. Many of the evacuees travelled in their summer clothes but wearing heavy winter coats (because they were too bulky to be packed into their cardboard suitcases)." 

Schools have already been asked to nominate the children they would like to be involved in the performances.

"Over the two previous productions in 1990 and 1995, in the region of 750 children experienced a living history, and for many this has remained with them as a highlight of their school years and education," said Mr Cordall. "Tim Langlois says he would like to invite them back to be part of the new production as adults, possibly alongside their own children. The production team will soon be inviting any adult to contact them to register their interest."