Using top-secret information from the war archives, classified until 1972, a new play, Tom Dick & Harry which opens at the Alexandra Palace Theatre, London on 26 July (press night 28 July) debunks the myths, honours the people involved, and tells the true story of the most daring escape attempt in World War II history.
From the team behind the smash-hit Around The World In 80 Days, directed by Theresa Heskins (Olivier Award-winning The Worst Witch) and co-produced by the New Vic Theatre and Kenny Wax Productions (The Play That Goes Wrong, Six The Musical), Tom, Dick & Harry is filled with dynamic drama, humour and breathtaking theatricality, telling an extraordinary true story of the escape from Stalag Luft III, of solidarity across nations, and of an unbreakable spirit to achieve the impossible.
1943. A prisoner of war camp in Nazi-occupied Europe. Above ground, is a prison impossible to escape. But below ground, the prisoners spy an opportunity. For these are not ordinary prisoners.
Serial escapees, the prisoners held in Stalag Luft III begin an exhilarating game of cat and mouse with their captors. Hiding their covert activity in plain sight with gymnastic exercise, choir practice, and cabbage growing (!), the men tunnel deep into the ground beneath the camp’s huts, and soon the most intricate, most audacious, greatest escape of them all is underway…
Director and co-writer Theresa Heskins is the Artistic Director of the New Vic. Her previous productions for the theatre include Marvellous, Beauty and The Beast, The Prince and The Pauper, The 39 Steps, Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Votes for Women, Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days (with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Simon Friend and The Royal Exchange, winner of the Cameo Page to Stage Award); The Snow Queen (winner of UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People 2017); Peter Pan in Scarlet with Oxford Playhouse, Kiss Me Quickstep, Robin Hood & Marian, Unearthed and The Throne in association with the National Theatre Studio, Dracula, The Borrowers, The 101 Dalmatians, Widowers’ Houses, A Christmas Carol, Far From the Madding Crowd, Where Have I Been All My Life?, Alice in Wonderland, The Rivals, The Admirable Crichton, Peter Pan, Bleak House, Humble Boy, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, The Wicked Lady, A Voyage Round My Father, The Weir, Great Expectations, The Wizard of Oz, Cider With Rosie, Jamaica Inn, The Glee Club. The Worst Witch for Northampton Theatres, Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre & Nica Burns (winner of the Olivier Award for Best Family Show 2020); White Open Spaces (South Bank Show Decibel Award nominee), Silent Engine (Edinburgh Fringe First), Precious Bane for Pentabus Theatre; Grace for Jade Theatre.
Her previous writing has included BBC Women’s Hour radio dramas Lady Audley’s Secret, Wives, and Daughters, Gunspowder Women. Shows created for the New Vic at Christmas have been produced all over the UK, including by the Watermill Theatre, Northern Stage, Edinburgh Lyceum, Cardiff Sherman, Kingston Rose, and Northampton Theatres.
Theresa trained at Birmingham Rep on the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme.
Co-writer Andrew Pollard has acted in many productions for the New Vic Theatre including Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Educating Rita, Around the World in 80 Days (2018 US Tour – Asolo Rep, Florida and New Victory Theatre, New York; 2017 co-production with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Simon Friend and the Royal Exchange; 2014 – co-production with the Manchester Royal Exchange; 2013 – New Vic Theatre); Peter Pan In Scarlet, Talent, Diane of Dobson’s, The Ladykillers, Ghosts, Far from the Madding Crowd, Where Have I Been All My Life, Spring and Port Wine, The Admirable Crichton, The Rivals, Alphabetical Order and The Graduate. At the New Vic: Medea, School for Scandal, Macbeth, King John, and The Merry Wives (Northern Broadsides).
Other theatre credits include To Sir with Love (Birmingham Rep); Life’s A Drag (Contact Theatre); Hayfever, Sleeping Beauty, Babes in the Wood and Perfect Days (Oldham Coliseum); Arsenic and Old Lace and The Lonesome West (Keswick Theatre by the Lake); The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath); A Night at the Bijou (Natural Theatre); Whose Dog Is It Anyway? (JB Shorts); Comedy of Errors (Ludlow Shakespeare Festival); The Queen of Hearts, Sleeping Beauty, Robinson Crusoe, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Dick Whittington and Sleeping Beauty (Greenwich Theatre); Search Light Over the Bemmy (Tobacco Factory); Cinderella (Halifax Victoria); Marat/Sade (Bristol Old Vic); The Picture of Dorian Gray (American Drama Group); Dick Whittington (Theatre Royal Northampton) and A Taste of Honey (Moffat Little Theatre Co.).
Andrew’s television credits include Womanhood (BBC); Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures); Trying Again (Sky One/Avalon); Coronation Street and Emmerdale (ITV); Coup (Channel 4); Jodie and Mary (ITN) and Spooks: Liberty (BBC/Kudos Television).
Co-writer Michael Hugo’s previous acting credits include Marvelous, Tale Trail to Coppelia, 39 Steps (New Vic Theatre); Around The World In 80 Days (co-production with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Simon Friend, and Royal Exchange U.S.A tour); The 39 Steps, Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Cyrano (co-production with Northern Broadsides); Peter Pan In Scarlet, The Lady Killers (co-production with Hull Truck); The Borrowers, Far From the Madding Crowd, Where Have I Been All My Life, Alice in Wonderland, The Admirable Crichton, Proof, The Rivals, Peter Pan, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, The Wicked Lady, Great Expectations, Stags and Hens, Christmas Carol, Pinocchio, Kes. (New Vic Theatre), They Don’t Pay, We Won’t Pay, The Winter’s Tale, The Grand Gesture, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Canterbury Tales, Lisa’s Sex Strike, The Tempest, Vacuum (Northern Broadsides). Cinderella (Lawrence Batley Theatre); Frozen (Fingersmiths); The Hunt for the Scroobius Pip (Sticks Theatre Co.) Wind in the Willows (Birmingham Rep); Broken Time (Three Stones Media); Peter Pan (Spiller’s); Breaking the Code (Chester Gateway); Babes in the Wood, The Rise, and Fall of Little Voice (Oldham Coliseum).
Michael’s television and commercial credits include Coronation Street (ITV); Hero Goalie (Abbot Meade Vickers BBDO); I’m With Stupid (BBC); Sir Gadabout (Alibi Productions); A Right Charlie, The Collector.
Tickets priced from £15 can be booked from today at www.tomdickandharryonstage.com
