The same sky: A play in three acts

by Yvonne Mitchell

84 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 1953

About the author

Yvonne Mitchell (born Yvonne Frances Joseph) was an English actress and author. She was a theatre and film/television actor throughout her life.

Mitchell was also an established author, writing several books for children and adults as well as winning awards for playwriting. Her plays include "The Same Sky". She wrote an acclaimed biography of the French writer Colette, and her own autobiography, "Actress", was published in 1957.

Author of: "The Bed-Sitter" (1959), "A Year in Time " (1964), "Cathy Away" (1964), and "The Family" (1967), "Martha on Sunday" (1970), "But Wednesday Cried" (1974), "God is Inexperienced" (1974), "Fables" (1977), and "But Answer Came There None" (1977).

Reviews

[Haydn Wheeler]

Yvonne Mitchell's strong work ethic involved not only authoring novels but also crafting a play. During joblessness and the belief that she may never work again, she opted to live with her sister. Yvonne, having no clue how to start, adopted a template that someone had previously created. Building on the themes of Romeo and Juliet, an original setting, a set of characters were explored. The Same Sky tells the tale of a conflict between a Jewish family and their daughter's romance with a non-Jewish person. This is a story about a young couple from two different families, whose love for each other is tested by the tensions arising from their contrasting religious backgrounds. Opposed to the couple's marriage and marrying outside the faith. Their families putting barriers between the lovers. This story reflected what Yvonne had heard from her sister while working at a children's play centre. She witnessed an animosity in some young children between the faiths. Set at the outbreak of WWII. The play directly confronts the prejudices of various beliefs. Yvonne knew it would be hard to get produced, to be picked up, but was determined not to allow her work to be constrained by commercial considerations. In her own words, knowing work was scarce, she wrote as a need for something to do. Was this her downplaying her reasons for writing? As something to do.? Or a direct commentary. Her own witnessing of prejudice and a reflection of where that can lead to in a family setting or in generality. With a three-year cap from being written and to the stage. Yvonne would finally see her play on the stage. 1950 saw the Nottingham Playhouse put on a performance. What followed was more theatre productions and radio broadcasts.