11th September 2017

Liverpool Cathedral next stop for Edinburgh Fringe group

A Christian theatre group formed by The Church of England in Lancashire and Lancashire Methodist District has returned from the Edinburgh Festival, where their successful production played to packed houses most evenings of a week-long run. 

The cast took to the streets of Edinburgh during the day to drum up interest and bumped into celebrities galore, including comedian Al Murray.

Home Front, Front Line was written by Rev. Canon David Banbury from Leyland who is Blackburn Diocese’s Parish Mission Support Leader. The play had already been seen at several venues across Lancashire before the successful appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Home Front, Front Line is an emotionally-charged look at life in World War 2 through the eyes of a young couple (Lizzie and Tom) serving their country at home and abroad and it celebrates love, commitment and faith in the face of separation, hardship and conflict.

The same team has also produced a play which will be performed at Liverpool Cathedral this month and which celebrates the life of Captain Noel Chavasse and his brother Christopher. 

Noel Chavasse was the only man to have been awarded two VCs during the first world war, the second posthumously.

His brother Christopher was an army chaplain, survived the war and went on to become Bishop of Rochester.

A special exhibition about the Chavasse Family is being held in Liverpool Cathedral from September 12 to October 9. The play, 'Brothers in Arms', celebrates the lives of Noel and Christopher and can be seen at the Cathedral on September 15 or 16. 

Incorporating drama, music, poetry, images and film it seeks to personalise the war by reflecting on a global conflict through the eyes of two soldiers. 

Brothers in Arms was initially written to commemorate the centenary of WW1 and has, to date, been seen by over 2,500 people across the North West. 

Tickets for the Liverpool Cathedral performances are just £3 via www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk and include access to the exhibition.

•   If you can’t make it to Liverpool but still want to catch ‘Brothers in Arms’ it also continues to tour Lancashire and the next stop is All Saints Church, Higher Walton, near Preston, PR5 4DB on Sunday 22 October from 7pm. Free admission, but donations welcome to the charity Help for Heroes. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the presentation. For more information about the Preston evening contact Stephen Houghton 01254 851202.