Mexborough and Swinton Times March 2, 1928
“Shadows of Strife.”
Swinton Man’s Play About the Coal Dispute.
Sheffield Playgoers Production.
The Sheffield Playgoers’ Society will perform in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Fargate, Sheffield, next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a play, “Shadows of Strife,” by Mr. John Davidson, a Mexborough locomotive worker, whose home is at Piccadilly, Swinton. The play was discovered by the Sheffield Playgoers’ Society last year and they immediately recognised its dramatic possibilities.
It presents a picture of a South Yorkshire miner’s home and family during the coal dispute of 1926. The whole of the action takes place in the Brewsters’ home, and is entirely concerned with the dispute. The dialogue throughout is in the vernacular. It is the first time the Playgoers have attempted a play of this type, but they are confident, says Mr. Watling, the producer, that it will please their audiences. An interesting feature of the play is its introduction of “gang terrorism” which was and is a regrettable element in industrial populations and one of the most striking characters in the play is a gang leader. The atmosphere of the play is in the main gloomy and tragic but is lightened here and there with comedy.
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Mr. Davidson has been present at a reading of the play and will hear a rehearsal to-day. The following is the cast:
Matthew Merridew Harold Poynter.
Luke Brewster Chas. S. Brown.
Nellie Brewster Julia Curry.
George Brewster G. A. Vann.
John Brewster L. Bradley.
Mary Brewster Phyllis Ingold.
Mrs. Flowitt Lilla Warskett.
Donaldson Jack Ferrier.
Bates Reginald Parkin.