Cast

Synopsis

A classic Lancashire comedy whose very title. has become part of our language. How we all relish the situation of the worm turning and in this play we watch the down-trodden Willie Mossop, buttressed by a very determined woman, as he confronts the loud-mouthed bully who has long made his life a misery. And how satisfactory it is to see that the choice facing Henry Horatio Hobson is finally no choice at all.

Directors Notes

From 1907-21 The Repertory Company of the Gaiety Theatre of Manchester was financed and produced by Miss A.E.F. Horniman, a Londoner. She devoted most of her life to subsidising theatre, notably Yeats and Shaw at the Avenue Theatre (London), the Abbey Theatre (Dublin) and finally the Galety, she built a fine company of players and encouraged local playwrights such as Stanley Houghton ‘Hindle Wakes’, Alan Monkhouse ‘Mary Brome’ and Harold Brighouse. All three were on the staff of The Manchester Guardian and were students at Miss Horniman’s Manchester School of Playwrights.

Harold Brighouse (1882 -1958) was born at Eccles Lancashire and had his best full length play ‘Hobson’s Choice’ produced by the 16 Repertory Company in 1916, first in America and later at the Apollo Theatre London. The play has been hugely popular ever since and was filmed in 1954 by David Lean, with Charles Laughton, Brenda de Banzie and John Mills leading the cast.

My introduction and abiding interest in Amateur Theatre began in 1968 when, new to Bradford, I attended a splendid production of Hobson’s Choice at Bradford Playhouse. Now, many years later, I am making my debut as a director at BLT with this play. How I wish it may kindle a love of live theatre in someone in the audience tonight.