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Liberation Day

Poetry

World War Two German Occupation of the Isle of Guernsey

(My latest musical for Keystage Two children.)

Commissioned and performed by: The Crockerne Primary School Bristol 14th July 2004.

The show lasts for approximately 45 minutes.

Comments after first performances:

A Parent: “What a fantastic way to learn about the history of our country. I've learnt things this evening!”

A Headteacher: “The educational value of this play simply cannot be measured. An outstanding performance of a very humorous, fascinating and factual play. This is what excellence and enjoyment is all about. The children will remember the effect of the Occupation on the Guernsey children for ever. Much better than a text book in my opinion.”

Key Stage Two Actor: “That was wicked! When can we do it again?”

Teacher/Director: “Fantastic script to work with. The children were able to learn their parts with ease. The whole thing just slipped into place effortlessly. By far the easiest play I have ever directed.”

Music Coordinator: “The music was so well written and professionally produced that I had very little to do. The songs were so catchy the children just picked them up and were regularly heard singing them in the playground just for fun.”

A Parent: “Superb, I really enjoyed that. It's so nice to see children given the chance to take part in plays again.”

A Grandparent: “That was amazing! I still have those tunes racing around my head now; I think I'll be singing them in my sleep tonight. No wonder the children learnt them so quickly and enjoyed singing them so much.”

Georgina Hird who played the part of 'Molly' : “I think the children must have been very brave to go out with the 'Singing Pram' with all those Germans around. I would have been terrified.”

Molly Bihet (the Guernsey author who was eight in 1940 and who is author of 'A Child's War' and on whom the character of 'Molly' is based): “The play is very good and well thought out.”

A Guernsey Pensioner living in the island throughout the occupation: “I feel that Hugh Mullarkey has quite caught the spirit of Guernsey and of its people in his 'Liberation Day' musical. It has captured the true spirit of those days here in the island. I'm looking forward to his next play!”