'BULLETS AND DAFFODILS' the musical drama about the life and work of the iconic WW1 soldier poet who is perhaps the best known and loved of all the WW1 poets will bring Wilfred back to his childhood haunt of New Brighton on the Wirral. If you've not been to New Brighton recently - or if you've never been - it is well worth a look as it has recently undergone extensive refurbishment and has a lot to offer plus an amazing view over the Rivery Mersey and out to the Irish Sea. Lots of restaurants and a super ice cream parlour - Caffe Cream - that serves gorgeous ice cream.
Merseyside legends Billy Butler and Dean Sullivan will head the cast of the biggest performance yet of Bullets And Daffodils at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion on Saturday, 16th August 2014.
The Radio Merseyside veteran will narrate the show along with the former Brooksidestar, who will also direct the musical that follows the life of war poet Wilfred Owenfrom his school days in Birkenhead to his tragic death in the trenches.
This WW1 Centenary performance will take place 100 years to the month that Britain entered the War. The cast will be joined by a 100-strong community choir with each voice commemorating every year since 1914.
“The Floral Pavilion show will also be poignant in another way,” explains the writer Dean Johnson,who is also curator of The Wilfred Owen Story Museum in Birkenhead's Argyle Strteet: “New Brighton was a favourite haunt of Wilfred and his family. He learnt to swim and horse ride there, so performing so close to where he actually played will be very moving.”
Bullets and Daffodils was premiered four years ago at Birkenhead Central Library, and has gone on to enjoy runs in London's West End, and has also been the subject of a BBC film.
Referring to the very special Floral Pavilion performance, Dean concludes, “I am very proud to be able to work with Billy Butler, he is a true legend and the 'voice' of Merseyside. Dean Sullivan directed our first shows and it’s wonderful that he is back on board for this massive performance. Taking the show around the UK has been amazing, but we always set our hearts on a big Wirral venue, and it’s an honour to be appearing at the Floral Pavilion in this WW1 Centenary year.”
For further information, please contact Dean Johnson
The Wilfred Owen Story
34 Argyle Street
Birkenhead
CH41 6AE
www.wilfredowenstory.com
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Photo: Miss Radio Wave 2014 and Miss Blackpool Finalist 2014 Emily Baldwin at the launch of an exhibition of WW1 poets at Blackpool Central Library on 4th August 2014. What has that to do with "Bullets and Daffodils"? Researching women who wrote poetry was Dean Johnson's idea - he asked Lucy to come up with an exhibition of female poets of the First World War for an exhibition at his museum in Birkenhead in November 2012. The project has grown form there.
