Review: Voices of War - a Worcester Repertory Company production at the Swan Theatre, Worcester.

IT’S hard to imagine a more Worcester-flavoured show than this latest work from the pen of city arts supremo Chris Jaeger.

What made this wonderful and at times emotional journey through the dark days of the last century resound with such resonance was that this two-nighter featured the city’s great talents both past and present.

Onstage, we not only enjoyed the music of Worcestershire’s Sir Edward Elgar, but also the glorious effervescence of Claire Worboys as Vesta Tilley, the poor girl from the Blockhouse who was famously credited with being the best recruiting sergeant of the British Army.

Claire was absolutely magnificent and it’s a wonder the men didn’t rush the Swan Theatre stage en masse and take the King’s shilling.

Ben Humphrey’s rendition of Woodbine Willie’s terse and bitter poem on the waste of war breathed new life into the St Paul’s preacher’s words, while Liz Grand’s reading of the poignantly comical letter by the lovesick wife pining for her husband in the trenches brought some extra light relief to the proceedings.

Above all, this was also a night of music and dance, so special mention should be made of the Cathedral Chamber Choir and The Academy’s interpretation of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

The choir’s voices fell like stardust, guided by the steady baton of conductor Stephen Shellard and Chris Allsop’s piano. And Helen Leek’s stunningly crafted choreography evoked tragedy and loss, the dancers conveying images of death and carnage.

The magic of this production was the way it struck a balance between present-day and older traditions. Edward Roberts-Malpass’s flawless trumpet work called us to attention and David Waldron’s Kohima, flanked by the standard bearers of the Royal British Legion, reminded us of the continuing work to help the casualties of modern conflict.

Yes, this was an all-Worcester production… and its participants can be justifiably proud.

JOHN PHILLPOTT