Tommies: Part One, 1914

by Nick Warburton, Michael Chaplin, Jonathan Ruffle

A major new drama series from BBC Radio 4 which follows the lives of those on, and behind, the battlefront of World War One. This first series of six plays is set in 1914 and follows the fortunes of Mickey Bliss (Lee Ross), Horace Greenwood, Maberley Dunster, Walter Oddy and other soldiers in the first few months of the war.

1 pages, Audio CD

First published November 13, 2014

About the author

Nick Warburton was born in 1947 and is married with one son. He gave up teaching in primary schools after ten years to try writing (also doing part-time work in libraries and selling on craft stalls). He writes children's books, radio, stage and television scripts, and in 1985 was joint winner of the BBC/Radio Times drama award for Conversations From the Engine Room.

Nick's play "Beast" won the Tinniswood Award; best play of 2005. See brief mention below and Tinniswood Award page.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 45 minute plays following the same group of characters as they took part in World War I in 1914.

More importantly, Indira Varma, an talented actress, does not play a character that dies. I am shocked. Usually she dies in the first episode or first season, which is sad because she is usually the reason I am watching.

The voice acting is fine, in particular Varma's role as commentor who guides the listen though the history. The play actually includes the Indian regiment that fought.

Powerful.