The Blitz 1940

The Blitz was an horrific time for Britain, it was moment the heart of the Britian was literally crumberling away.
Although many children were evacuated to the countryside there were still a number that remained in the cities.


Although the play itself is not soley set in the London it is important to get that feeling of coping with the conditions. I imagine your living out of a suitcase if your lucky with homes being destroyed in minute, recovering bodies out of rumble or worse recieveing news of loved ones away at war. I feel it would be a traumatic time for anyone.
I feel using this to Helen's character has given up on caring unlike Hetty she is not experinencing family away at war. Of which she has become bitter that fact that there is no one out there thinking of her. In a sense this seems a bit selfish to think of it in that way but she has no husband all she has is her daughter who she constantly critques. Maybe this is last ditch attempt to be the mother she never was.

I really wanted to get that sense of fear and dread installed into during the bomb scene. In a way this feeling can only be created by the atmosphere. Therefore when the SFX and LFX were included it did give me that real sense of the atmopshere during that time.
I will say when hearing the air raid siren it has installed that fear and panic which I can only say is what the people back then felt when that noise bellowed through the country.

Smoking? For fashion or For life

During the 1940's, infact from earlier smoking was always popular it was regarded as a social thing as drinking is sometimes nowadays.
Helen is a heavy smoking it is built into her characteristics whether it is done for fashion or for relief that is debateable. I feel when I really go into the sort of person Helen is I believe it would be for fashion purposes.



After further research it's clear that people were made to believe that smoking was recommended by the doctor and that it could "give you a slender figure". All these statements completely contradict the thoughts on smoking today.
However I am maintaining the character of the time and the image that those cigarette companies were after back then.

Crispian Speech

THIS STORY SHALL THE GOOD MAN TEACH HIS SON
AND CRISPIN CRISPIAN SHALL NE'ER GO BY
FROM THIS DAY FROM THE ENDING OF THE WORLD
BUT WE IN IT SHALL BE REMEMBERED

WE FEW

WE HAPPY FEW


The Crispian Days Speech is one of the most famous speeches of and renowned throughout.
The meaning behind this speech is very important it is a speech that creates patotism, brother hood and courage. The original speech comes from Henry V when he is rounding the troops preparing them for battle.
This speech is very important to We Happy Few because it is set in the similiar context, the fight, a brotherhood and the courage the women had to do what they did and they weren't deterred no matter what was said.

Every memeber of the players has a line of the speech I feel that each word should be said with punch and conviction.
In order for me to understand the power that is needed for this speech I have reviewed previous performances of the speech imparticular Brangahs interpretation.
A video is located at the bottom

Childrens Hour- Radio

At this time the television was not a common feature in the 1940's household. The wireless was put as a high regard and was the only for of entertainment and news.
Helen is a story teller on the radio where she is presenting Children's Hour. Back in the 1940's this is the only for of entertainment that children had, not many households had televsion sets until 1952 when the Queens Coronation occured.

"Our great actors are back on the Westend...bastards!"

During the play many actors are mentioned so I felt necessary to have an understanding of those actors as I know the actors and stars of my time I should know the ones of that time.

Ralph Richardson



Laurence Olivier


John Gielgud


Richardson, Olivier and Gielgud were three of the most renowned English actors of the mid 20th century. They were strongly affiliated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic. There roles have included Hamlet, Richard II and Henry V, if not more.
These three have a connection, John Gielgud Directed and produced many films which had the involvement of Richardson and Olivier. So all three worked in close proximity with each other.

Clothes, What to wear?

At this time the pencil skirts where coming in and belts at the waist. This broke away from the straight long flapper dresses of the 1930s. I have pictured Helen as very sophisticated wearing a smart fashionable dress. Diamonds and Pearls I feel is fundamental to Helen's character.


Seamed Stockings!
With the break out of war food, clothing, petrol almost everything was rationed including stockings. At this time ladies were always wearing stockings especially, it was a common trend when you were unable to have a pair of stockings you would imitate stockings with an eyebrow pencil and coffee or some form of tanning agent of the time.

I felt it was important to research this area as it occurs for Helen. I think this just highlights how women had to go to extremes in order to maintain their fashionable status.

Hair styles, What to wear?

During the 1940's the common hairstyle was up and tightly rolled in creating elaborate curls framing the face. This Style I feel spanned off from the shorts bobs and waves of the 1920's and early 30's with the flappers. At the bottom of the page I found a newsreel showing upcoming hair styles of the 1940s.

Personally I have slight obstacle with my hair being so long, however I have experimented with alternative styles.
Using the method-
- Matt up hair
- Twist
- Pin in
- Lots of Hair Spray! :)