Set in June 1997, David Morley's play deals with the intertwining stories of three former special forces operatives from World War II as they prepare to give a televised tribute to their friend Patricia, a fourth operative who unfortunately met an untimely death during the war. Find out more about the show's historical background by reading on.
Following the fall of France in June 1940, the Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the creation of the covert Special Operations Executive, which sent agents behind enemy lines to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe (and later in occupied Southeast Asia) against the Axis powers and to aid local resistance movements.
The organization recruited ordinary citizens from all backgrounds and walks of life and put them through gruelling training to extract the traits necessary to be an SOE agent deep in enemy territory. Living and operating secretly behind enemy lines was extremely hazardous. If discovered, agents risked arrest, torture and execution. Of the 470 agents sent into France, 118 failed to return.
Few people were aware of SOE's existence. Those who were part of it or liaised with it were sometimes referred to as the ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ after the location of its London headquarters. It was also known as ‘Churchill's Secret Army’ or the ‘Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’. Its various branches, and sometimes the organisation as a whole, were concealed for security purposes behind names such as the ‘Joint Technical Board’ or the ‘Inter-Service Research Bureau’, or fictitious branches of the Air Ministry, Admiralty or War Office. The organisation directly employed or controlled more than 13,000 people, about 3,200 of whom were women.
In the play, each of the former operatives, two men and one woman, carried out a different function during the War and each now carries their own burden of guilt. The play is inspired by real events.
This is a thought-provoking piece of drama with strong characters and even stronger themes, leading to questions about our individual responsibilities in a time of crisis.
Director, Nick Warburton, says ‘it has been a great pleasure to work on David Morley’s intriguing play. It offers several versions of the truth, a cast of well-drawn and contrasting characters, and a deal of resonance for today’s uncertain world. We invite you to join us in the scheming and moral complexity of A Cold Supper Behind Harrods’.
A Cold Supper Behind Harrods
Corpus Playroom
Tue 12 - Sat 16 December, 7.30PM