Michael Greco captains star cast as part of Football Remembers in London re-run of First World War stage play The Greater Game
Michael Greco is set to play war hero and football manager Billy Holmes alongside Harry Potter’s James Phelps who is changing a wizard wand for a rifle as The Greater Game returns to the stage.
Other cast members include award winning actors Paul Marlon (Communion, Dangerous Mind Of A Hooligan, Essex Boys Retribution) and Scott Kyle (Outlander, Kilo Two Bravo, The Angels Share) as well as Victoria Gibson and Helena Doughty who some of the more keenly eyed readers may recognize for their connections to both the football and theatre world. All of these line up under the stewardship of multi award winning director Adam Morley who will present The Greater Game as part of Football Remembers, a pan football initiative set up by the FA, Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and PFA which will support a range of projects commemorating the Armistice and conclusion of the First World War Centenary.
The Greater Game tells the true story of some of the footballers who signed up to fight in the Great War, focusing on lifelong friends Richard McFadden (James Phelps) and William Jonas (Steven Bush) who travelled from Newcastle to London to play football for Clapton Orient, before swapping England for France to ‘fight for King and Country’ – a fight neither one would survive. More than a story of football or war, The Greater Game is a story of love, friendship, sacrifice, triumph and loss.
“a mix of harsh reality and tender and cherished moments” ★★★★★ Guardian Series
After a 5 star run at the Southwark Playhouse in 2017, The Greater Game has been re-drafted and is set to come back even stronger for a run at the Waterloo East Theatre from October 30th to November 25th. Some nights have already sold out to the show critics raved about:
“Make the effort to see this, it is well worth while” ★★★★★ West End Wilma
“It is very rare you get a chance to tell a true story where the families of the fallen are directly involved’ said producer and O’s legend Peter Kitchen “even more so when it is such a touching yet funny true story”. “The last show got a standing ovation every night and word of mouth lead to over 4k people seeing the first production, which we are all very proud of, so to get the chance to tell this amazing true story one more time and do justice to the men and woman who sacrificed so much 100 years ago is a real honour”
The show was written by Michael Head on the back of his 5 star show ‘Worth A Flutter’ which is currently being considered for a West End Transfer following a highly successful run at The Hope Theatre.
Michael said; “to get the chance to tell this story, to touch so many and bring an audience to tears and fill the theatre with laugher was a real pleasure and this time everything is set to be even stronger than our first run”.
Tickets can be booked via https://www.waterlooeast.co.uk/the-greater-game
Reviews for The Greater Game
“Make the effort to see this, it is well worth while” ★★★★★ West End Wilma
“a mix of harsh reality and tender and cherished moments” ★★★★★ Guardian Series
“A rollercoaster ride through the troubles of friendship and war” ★★★★ Musical Theatre Musings
“Engaging and touching” The Stage
