With the homeland under German fire and the mortal coil wound tight, the true story of Violet Macdonald is revealed. It tells of how this young woman from north east Yorkshire rises up from the strife of daily life, to find her way to a place that she never believed possible. Violet’s story is not so much about an extraordinary life, but of an ordinary, working-class, Yorkshire-woman experiencing extraordinary times from 1916-1952.
Keywords: WW1, WW2, British, Emigrating, Canada
Genre: Historical, Biography
Acts: 2
Run time: 110 minutes
Suitable for students 16+
Content notes: Contains sexual references
Cast size: 15 actors
Male roles: 4
Female roles: 4
Other roles: 7
Casting breakdown:
*Agnes (15 to 50), **Violet (8), **Violet (15 - 28), Lettie (23 - 28)
*could use 2 actresses
**could be played by 1 actress
*Ernie (15 to 50), Robert (25), Kevin (21 - 28), Kevin Clark (21 - 28)
The narrator can be m or f
*could be played by 2 actors
3 actors are silent and 3 others have 2 lines or less
Production notes: Using rear projection to create a backdrop to depict the times is highly recommended. Other staging is minimal. Costume and hairstyles are vital to bring the era alive.