After premiering his play The Greater Game‘s at Southwark Playhouse in 2016, Michael Head had no plans to revive it. But then another director and Football Remembers came knocking, and the opportunity to tell this incredible true-life story about footballers in the First World War, at the centenary of the Armistice, proved impossible to resist. Michael will also reprise his onstage role in the new production alongside two newly cast, big stars. Learn more in our interview with Michael below – and then get booking!
The Greater Game, written by Michael Head and based on Stephen Jenkins’ book They Took the Lead, tells the story of the 41 men of London club Clapton Orient, who signed up en masse to serve King and Country. This new production, following an earlier staging at Southwark Playhouse in 2016, runs at London’s Waterloo East Theatre 29 October to 24 November 2018, with a press night on 1 November and a special show on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November – Armistice Day.
Michael Greco plays war hero and football manager Billy Holmes alongside James Phelps, who swaps his wizard wand as Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films for a rifle as he moves from the Battle of Hogwarts to the Battle of the Somme. The cast, directed by Adam Morley, also features the play’s author, Michael Head.
The Greater Game tells the true story of the footballers who served in World War One, focusing on lifelong friends Richard McFadden (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.
The Greater Games runs 30 October-25 November 2018 at London’s Waterloo East Theatre
Michael, what was your original inspiration for writing The Greater Game?
I found out about the story behind The Greater Game while watching Sky Sports. There was a segment saying Leyton Orient sent all 41 men to war. I contacted the club who said the author of the book, Stephen Jenkins, would get in touch. I put the phone down and said to my wife ‘Well I am never hearing from him, am I?’ Then ten minutes later, it was Stephen. He invited me to the Orient to watch a game the following Saturday, which they won 4-1 (against Sheffield Wednesday). When at the club, I saw the history behind the story, including a shield issued by the Royal Family, a memorial gardens and many photos of the people who fought in the Battle of the Somme.
I then read Stephen’s book They Took the Lead. I couldn’t believe it was a true story – and it had so many layers, not just the tragedy of the men who died, but also the many comic aspects. I thought, if this was about a bigger club, it would be a Hollywood film already! After we staged the first show the first time, we were offered a film deal… if we changed the team to Arsenal. We refused out of respect for the club and the people who this is based on.
Are you an Orient fan yourself?
I’ve got to say I knew nothing about Orient before I started work on this. I’m a proud south Londoner, born and bred near Millwall – although, despite all my friends and family being Millwall season ticket holders, I followed my stepdad’s team and support Leeds United, which doesn’t go down well with the locals!
A pan-football initiative
What is “Football Remembers”? How are you involved?
Football Remembers is a pan-football initiative run by The FA (Football Association), PFA (Professional Footballers Association), Premier League and the EFL (English Football League). It is football’s way of paying its respects to all of the footballers who fought in the Great War and the many who were injured or died. We are delighted to have such great support. It is wonderful that, 100 years on, people are still remembering the sacrifice and paying their respects to all of the men and women who gave so much under what must have been unimaginable circumstances
What were the highlights from The Greater Game‘s 2016 run at Southwark Playhouse?
There are so many highlights: we had 48 performances at Southwark Playhouse and everyone got a standing ovation and was full of laughter and tears. Being from a working-class background, I love the fact my plays often have an element of the audience who are not regular theatregoers. To see their reactions and feedback always makes me smile.
The real highlights, though, come from the reactions of the people who this play is really about. We had the families of the fallen soldiers in the audience: to have the great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews thank you for bringing this story to life and ‘doing their family proud’ is a real honour.
Chelsea Pensioners
I would say the same about the audience members who served in the army who were full of praise for the accuracy and how it made them look back at their time in service. One man lost his son in Afghanistan. After the show, he hugged me and thanked me and said, for a brief moment in time, it brought his son back and gave him a window to what his son’s life in service must have been like.
Finally, my lasting memory will be of the Chelsea pensioners who saw the show. One night, at the end, two Chelsea pensioner were hugging each other with tears in their eyes and one of them shouted out “That was f**king amazing”, which brought a chuckle to the audience. Afterwards, the man apologised, but said it really brought a sense of pride and memories of his life back to him and made him feel young again. That is what I think is wonderful about The Greater Game and the power of theatre in general – to touch people like this really is special.
Why did you want to return to the piece so soon?
I had no plans to return to The Greater Game. My last play, Worth a Flutter, had just finished a very successful run at the Hope Theatre, and we’re in talks regarding a potential West End transfer so my focus was on that. However, when director Adam Morley, who I have worked with before as an actor, said he wanted to take the piece on, I couldn’t say no. I have so much respect for Adam and his career that the chance to work with him was too good to turn down. Then when the show’s producers Peter Kitchen and Stephen Jenkins told me of the Football Remembers interest, I couldn’t believe how everything had fallen into place.
To get a second chance at this play is something I am looking forward to. As with any show, there are things you are pleased with and things you would change. I think this production will be very different – I know the director has a very clear view of what he wants to do and how he plans to achieve it, which is exciting. Last time, the piece was very ‘in the moment’, which brings difficulties of creating the Battle of the Somme as if it is real. This time, I’ve re-written the script looking back with a storytelling element (which is a device I love as a writer). I think it will bring the story together more and we’ll be able to get even more out of our amazing cast.
James Phelps & Michael Greco
Tell us more about the new cast.
I always give the power to the director as I hate it when writers get involved ‘in the room’ or casting process. I was invited into the auditions and to see Adam work and the talent on display was almost frightening. The company Adam has assembled is amazing. I am always very honoured to have such wonderful actors work on my script and this is no exception. We have James Phelps (Harry Potter) and Michael Greco on board as well as award-winning actors Scott Kyle and Paul Marlon and award-nominated actors Jack Harding and Tom Stocks and Steven Bush, who has recently finished performing at the National.
We also have Victoria Gibson and Helena Doughty in the cast, which I am delighted about. Not only are Victoria and Helena exceptionally talented and experienced actresses, but they also have football in their blood. Victoria’s father is the Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, and Helena’s father is the ex-Nottingham Forest chairman Nigel Doughty. They are both very passionate about football, and their clubs are in the same league as Leeds. In fact, Forest are playing Leeds while we’re due to be at Orient and going onto the pitch at half-time to promote the play and meet the fans. So, depending on results, things could get interesting!
I am also pleased to be reviving my role as Herbert ‘Jumbo’ Reason in the play. To work with such great actors is a privilege and also to have my good friends Jack Harding (who I have worked with many times in my productions) and Paul Marlon in the company is lovely. We went to college together and it is always special when you get a chance to work with people you know well and bring that bond onto the stage.
Michael Head (right) with Danny Walters in the 2016 production of The Greater Game
Why do you think theatre is a good way to mark the centenary of the First World War?
I think with the centenary of the end of the war being this year, this is our last chance to tell this story. It is human nature that people move on, and I am sure media attention will turn to different events once this landmark has passed. This is why I am so pleased to get a chance to tell this story one last time for so many reasons. I think it is important to tell this story to our generation so we can learn from mistakes and pay our respects to these people. I also think it is an honour to tell this story and again do justice to the characters of the play and their families as well as all people who have served or been affected by conflict.
Finally I am pleased to get a chance to entertain people with this story, I know theatre can be used as a political tool or to tell a story or message, but I always feel theatre’s first and most important job is to entertain, be that for people to be moved or to escape for a few hours. The audience response and feedback from the last show was overwhelming, and I am looking forward to seeing that reaction again, be it from a football fan, a Chelsea pensioner, a member of one of the characters’ family or someone who is just looking for a good night out.
