Musical theatre company marks 75th anniversary of Sheffield Blitz

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Sheffield Blitz, Dronfield Musical Theatre Group is staging a a new documentary drama which tells the story of how ordinary people coped with the devastation caused by Hitler’s bombs
Janice O’Donovan; Caroline Hurt, Rachel Cooper Bassett. Finbar O’Donovan and Gail Hazelby in a scene from Blitzed!Janice O’Donovan; Caroline Hurt, Rachel Cooper Bassett. Finbar O’Donovan and Gail Hazelby in a scene from Blitzed!
Janice O’Donovan; Caroline Hurt, Rachel Cooper Bassett. Finbar O’Donovan and Gail Hazelby in a scene from Blitzed!

“The story of German air raids which wreaked havoc across Sheffield on two fateful nights in December 1940 is etched on the memories of all those who lived through the horror of losing their loved ones and their homes,” said writer/director Alan Powell.

“Seventy-five years later, new generations want to know what happened when the reality of war arrived on the city’s doorstep.”

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The team behind the show, which is entitled Blitzed! have been researching for many months, finding out facts and figures from numerous books written about the subject and collecting stories from people who remembered where they were and what it was like.

Blitzed! charts life in the city from the autumn of 1940 to Christmas of the same year, and tells the story of what life was like for the men, women and children as they lived through the devastation.

The production has a number of sketches which looks at families as they try to cope with shortages and blackout along with the sometimes comic adventures of friends and children.

When the narrative reaches December 12, there is a dramatic re-enactment of bombing of the city centre, and that is followed by a sequence of film and stills of the actual raid. Interspersed with the action are songs of the period which capture the spirit of the age.

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Blitzed! also looks at the aftermath of the raids detailing how people coped when thousands of people were made homeless. It was then that the true determination of people from all walks of life to keep calm and carry on was demonstrated.

Blitzed! is being performed by Dronfield Musical Theatre Group from Wednesday to Saturday, October 21 to 24 at Dronfield Civic Hall. Performances start at 7.30 and there is a matinee at 2.30 on the Saturday. For tickets call 01246 416364.

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