Love on the Dole

Directed by David Darby Produced by Christine Jackson The Cast (in order of appearance) Sally Hardcastle Sarah Taylor Mrs Hardcastle Maureen North Larry Meath David Darby Harry Hardcastle Justin Day Mr Hardcastle Stan Harbidge Mrs Jike Linda Godfrey Mrs Dorbell Sally Anderson Mrs Bull Pam Thompson Helen Hawkins Gill Wlngfield Policeman Mike Geisow Charlie Mick North Sam Grundy Steve Godfrey:
Sally Hardcastle: Sarah Taylor
Mrs Hardcastle: Maureen North
Larry Meath: David Darby
Harry Hardcastle: Justin Day
Mr Hardcastle: Stan Harbidge
Mrs Jike: Linda Godfrey
Mrs Dorbell: Sally Anderson
Mrs Bull: Pam Thompson
Helen Hawkins: Gill Wlngfield
Policeman: Mike Geisow
Charlie: Mick North
Sam Grundy: Steve Godfrey
Synopsis Set in the industrial North-West in the 1930's at the height of the Depression, Love on the Dole centres on Sally Hardcastle, a young woman whose entire family is buffeted by the cruel winds of recession. Her two suitors, a mill worker and a bookie, represent a stark choice between heartfelt idealism and harsh pragmatism. The bookie offers a way out not just for her but security for her whole family. She loves the mill worker. But when you are on the dole, is love enough? Using gritty realism and an abundance of humour Love on the Dole explores, through the moving story of the individuals concerned, a community driven to the 'edge of desperation by the squalor of their lives. This century, there can have been few plays written which have had such an immediate impact on the British public as Love on the Dole. The play opened at the Manchester Repertory Theatre in February 1934. By the end of 1935 it had been seen by more than 1 million people throughout the North. In towns where there was no theatre, it was performed in local cinemas �sometimes twice-nightly. However, it was still considered too "dangerous" for the West End. Finally, the Manchester companies pooled their resources to hire the Garrick Theatre in London. Wendy Hiller was cast as Sally, and Love on the Dole went on to become a classic play of international repute. ACT I Scene I The Hardcastle's kitchen in Hanky Park ACT II Scene I An alley in Hanky Park Scene II The same, the following afternoon Scene III On the moors, a few days later. ACT III Scene I The Hardcastle's kitchen, a year later Scene II The same, six months later.:
ACT I Scene I: The Hardcastle's kitchen in Hanky Park
ACT II Scene I: An alley in Hanky Park
Scene II: The same, the following afternoon
Scene III: On the moors, a few days later.
ACT III Scene I: The Hardcastle's kitchen, a year later
Scene II: The same, six months later.
Stage Manager: Jon Jones
Prompt: Val Culm
Properties: Rebecca Thompson
Mike Geisow
Sound & Light: Clive Holland
Susan Jones
Set Design: Martin Day
Set Construction: & Group Members
Ticket Sales: Kath Ready
Publicity: Pam Thompson
Refreshments: Kath Ready
& Group Members
Front of House: Kath Ready
& Group Members