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The Last Bantam

 
Richard Beck Review by Richard Beck 3 Published: 21 Aug 2025 Greenside @ George Street Show Dates: 1 Aug 2025-23 Aug 2025

There's no shortage of shows that tackle the plight of soldiers sent to the front to fight for their country, and Michael Hughes found his niche in The Last Bantam at Greenside @ George Street.

A story of patriotism, prejudice, courage and betrayal

Patrick Michael Wolfe, a teacher from Dublin, made many attempts to join the army at recruiting offices in Ireland and England, but was always rejected because he was below the regulation height. His motive for enlisting was to secure Irish Home Rule, a promise that was made to Irish recruits who joined up. He heard that a unique regiment had been formed by Alfred Bigland, the MP for Birkenhead, Cheshire. Bigland believed that shorter healthy men, many of whom worked in mines, could make a valuable contribution to the war effort. He wrote to the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, who agreed to the idea but refused to fund it. Undeterred, he formed Bigland's Birkenhead Bantams, who took the aggressive fowl as their emblem and later became 15th Battalion, 1st Birkenhead, The Cheshire Regiment. The 30,000 men were all between 4’10’’ and 5’3’’ (147–160 cm).

Clad in an authentic replica uniform and bustling with personal equipment, Hughes tells the remarkable story of these men and highlights the contribution of Irish recruits to the war effort and the attitudes they encountered among the ranks. It is a story of patriotism, prejudice, courage and betrayal, the action ranging from the city of Dublin to the horrors of the Western Front, with the Easter Rising carefully noted.

Handling a topic that might easily become heavy, Hughes ensures there are light moments, with humorous tales and even a tune or two within the narrative of war, all delivered in the lyrical tones of his homeland.

The show is for anyone who enjoys a well-told story, and even more so for those with an interest in WWI history who want to understand it from a personal perspective.

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The Blurb:

1914. The Great War rages. Britain recruits 30,000 men between 5’ and 5’3" to fight. These men come from all over Britain, Ireland and Canada. Known as Bantams after the small, aggressive rooster, they're formed into special Bantam battalions. 1918. Bouzincourt, France. A group of reporters visit the front to write about the Bantams. One Bantam remains: Patrick Michael Wolfe, a teacher from Dublin. This is his story, from the battlefields of France to rebellion in Dublin. Inspired by real events. ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). ***** (UKTW.co.uk). *****(@moreishtv) **** (PlaysInternational.org.uk). 'Hidden Gem' (FringeReview.co.uk). Spirit of the Fringe, Derek Awards.