My Boy Jack by David Haig

A powerful and moving account of the anguish at the heart of a man whose storytelling continues to delight millions the world over.

My Boy Jack was performed at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury 7-10 February 2018. Directed by Helen Watson and Kerrie McCormick.

The cast was as follows …

Rudyard Kipling – Philip Fine
Carrie Kipling – Deborah Watson
John (Jack) Kipling – Joe Deakin
Elsie (Bird) Kipling – Dani Turner
Guardsman Bowe – John McCormick
Guardsman McHugh, Major Sparks and BBC Announcer – Jem Turner
Guardsman Doyle – David Hornsby
Mr Frankland and Col. Rory Pottle – Stephen Rouse

Independent Reviews
Mike Lord – Oxfordshire Drama Reviews
Alex Wood (Independent review for Sardines Magazine)
Am Dram Man (Lance Bassett) – Oxford Mail

My Boy Jack – Advance Publicity …
27 Jan 2018 – Have you news of My Boy Jack?
24 Jan 2018 – John McCormick discusses My Boy Jack on Puritans Radio
7 Jan 2018 – Powerful, Moving Drama My Boy Jack

In the period leading up to the production in February 2018 we are publishing a series of “MY BOY JACK – Behind the Scenes” via Facebook.
These can also be seen here:
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 4 February 2018
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 1 February 2018
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 31 January 2018
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 27 January 2018
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 10 January 2018
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 31 December 2017
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 22 December 2017
My Boy Jack – Behind the Scenes – 13 December 2017

1913 : an introduction to 15yr old Jack Kipling, his defective vision, how he is desperate to get away from home, and how his father is determined to send him to war. A bitter family conflict is triggered leaving Rudyard – a renowned patriot – devastated by the warring of his greatest passions – his love for children (particularly his own) and his devotion to King and Country.

1915 : Jack does go to war – aided by his father’s influence – and is declared Missing In Action. We see Rudyard’s guilt at having helped Jack enlist.

1924 : Rudyard is interviewing soldiers from Jack’s regiment. One recalls his last moments – leading a charge against the German trenches, continuing the attack while the others dropped off in fear, killed by machine gun fire as he reached enemy lines. Kipling takes bittersweet solace knowing that his son died heroically.

There are some more photographs here with thanks to Mike Watling.

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