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The Winslow Boy

2006

About The Winslow Boy

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Set against the strict codes of conduct and manners of the age, The Winslow Boy is based on a father's fight to clear his son's name after the boy is expelled from Osborne Naval College for allegedly stealing a five-shilling postal order. To clear the boy's name was imperative for the family's honour; had they not done so, they would have been shunned by their peers and society. Similarly, the boy's life would have been wrecked by an indelible stain on his character which would have followed him throughout adulthood.

The play was inspired by an actual event, which set a legal precedent: the case of Stonyhurst College alumnus George Archer-Shee, a cadet at Osborne in 1908, who was accused of stealing a postal order from a fellow cadet. His elder brother, Major Martin Archer-Shee, was convinced of his innocence and persuaded his father (also called Martin) to engage lawyers. The most respected barrister of the day, Sir Edward Carson, was also persuaded of his innocence and insisted on the case coming to court. On the fourth day of the trial, the Solicitor General, Sir Rufus Isaacs, accepted that Archer-Shee was innocent, and ultimately the family was paid compensation.

22 - 29 April, 2006

  • Venue: The Courthouse Theatre
  • Genre: Drama
  • Playwright: Terence Rattigan
  • Director: Julian Oldfield

Cast

DYLAN SHALLESS

Ronnie Winslow

FAY SCETRINE

Violet

JOHN BOLGER

Arthur Winslow

CATH TAYLOR

Grace Winslow

MARY-ROSE MCLAREN

Catherine Winslow

JEZ CONSTABLE

Dickie Winslow

MARTIN MCGETTIGAN

John Watherstone

DAVID NOGA

Desmond Curry

LESLEY HALE

Miss Barnes

GARY HUNT

Fred

MATT NOBLE

Sir Robert Morton

Crew

  • Stage Manager
    Katrina Hill
  • Crew
    Kate Peachey & Gary Hunt
  • Lighting
    Tegan Allen & Kara Krusche
  • Sound Recording
    Michael Zala
  • Uniform
    Lynne Muller
  • Costume Supervision
    Leanne Westblade
  • Graphic design
    Peter Freund
  • Photography
    Gary Hunt

Program

    Performance Gallery

    Reviews

    REVIEWER - GARY WEST

    COMPELLING PLAY MOSTLY GETS IT RIGHT

    Terence Rattigan's classic Edwardian play is a compelling and heart-warming story of a family which places more faith in their child than the governmental ruling system of the day. Based on a true story that occurred in 1911, Julian Oldfield's excellent production opened last night.

    The Winslow Boy is a young naval cadet expelled from the Osborne Naval College for stealing a postal order. His father, Arthur Winslow, a banker and prominent member of society, sacrifices everything in order to seek justice and to prove his son's innocence.

    Arthur, with the help of his daughter, Catherine, employs Sir Robert Morton a Powerful lawyer, to prove his son's innocence. Robert's slogan, "let right be done", becomes the central theme of play.

    We see the family tangle with the British Navy, demand the right to sue the crown and even force a full debate in the House of Commons, all over five shillings. What the family is really fighting for is their honour and their right to a fair trial under British law.

    Arthur Winslow is Played by John Bolger, who presents the paternal character as humble, but stubborn in his determination, and who believably withers away physically during the course of the Play. Dylan Shalless is Ronnie the Young Winslow in question. Catherine Taylor is the nurturing matriarch Grace Winslow. Her progression from cool dignity to emotionally frayed serves as the prism for the family's experience. Mary-Rose McLaren as the feminist daughter Catherine is pivotal to the story and delivers an outstanding performance. The play works on many levels, not least the way this traditional British family is torn apart by the emotional and financial pressure of fighting a seemingly impossible case, but also revealing the courage in the pursuit of truth and honour. Apart from a few flaws in the storyline this excellent National Theatre production is well worth seeing.