Our Day Out
| Our Day Out | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Pedr James |
| Written by | Willy Russell |
| Produced by | Pedr James |
| Starring | Jean Heywood Alun Armstrong Elizabeth Estensen Lennox Greaves Robert Gillespie George Malpas Jill Richards Iona Banks Peter Tilbury |
Release date | 1977[1] |
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Language | English |
Our Day Out is a made-for-TV film about deprived children from Liverpool, United Kingdom. It was written by Willy Russell and first aired on 28 December 1977, at 9pm on BBC2 [1]. It was later converted into a full length stage musical.
Origins and development
The play "Our Day Out" was commissioned by the BBC and first broadcast in December 1977[1] as part of the BBC's Play of the Week series. Due to popular demand, it was shown again in February 1978 as part of the BBC's Play For Today series,[2] and was also re-broadcast in 1979 and again in August 1990, and on BBC4 in 2008.
Willy Russell had taught at Dingle Vale School, one of the locations used in the film, and called on his experiences of school trips—as a teacher and as a child—when writing the screenplay, which he finished in five days. The film was shot on 16mm film by a first-time director in three weeks, and features a largely untrained cast.[3]
The original television version was developed into a musical for the stage with songs by Willy Russell, Chris Mellor, and Bob Eaton. This production, directed by Bob Eaton, was first performed at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool in 1983.
Synopsis
The play centres around a school trip to Conwy Castle in North Wales. Mrs Kay teaches a remedial class for illiterate children, called the "Progress Class". The whole class, along with Digga and Reilly, the slightly older class bullies who used to be in the Progress Class, are taken on a coach trip. At the last minute, the Headmaster commissions Mr Briggs, the authoritarian Deputy Headmaster, to supervise the trip.
Plot
Although planned originally as a trip to the castle, they also end up going to the zoo, beach and fairgrounds. Mrs Kay and her helpers, Susan and Colin, are all very kind, but have little hope for the children. Mr Briggs (apparently the Deputy Headteacher) is a stark contrast to Mrs Kay, thinking that the children are spoilt, don't work hard enough and have a chance in life. and they went to leannes house
Analysis
The story is partly a celebration of the highs and lows of growing up, being teenagers and free from school. But by the end it becomes darker and unexpected. These no-hopers from the Liverpool backstreets are reminded of their depressing current situation and even bleaker future leading to the stark realization that a day out is about as much as they can expect. It is very similar to Blood Brothers in the way that it both picks up on the life that the working class kids have.
Principal cast
Teachers[3]
- Jean Heywood as Mrs Kay: Mrs Helen Kay is the teacher of the Progress Class. In her early forties, she is a light-hearted person who would allow the children to behave as they wish.
- Elizabeth Estensen as Susan: Miss Susan Morgan helps Mrs Kay look after the children. Susan and Colin are lovers, and are in their early twenties.
- Lennox Greaves as Colin: Mr Colin Hunter is another helper of Mrs Kay; he is teased by Reilly & Digga and is in his early twenties.
- Alun Armstrong as Mr Briggs: Mr John Briggs is the authoritarian Deputy Headmaster; he is very strict and tries to discipline the children.
- Robert Gillespie as the Headmaster: Sends Mr Briggs to supervise the children.
Kids[3]
- Julie Jones as Carol: Carol Chandler is the first and last character seen in the film. She is shown to be a deep thinker.
- Stephen Caffrey as Reilly: Brian Reilly is one of the older students on the trip, from Mr Briggs' class. He can be seen as the class bully.
- Joe Jennings as Digga: 'Digga' Dickson, like his classmate Reilly, is a bully.
- Jacqueline Lucas as Linda: Linda Croxley has a crush on Colin and tries to impress him throughout the duration of the trip.
- Sheila Ashes as Karen(or Jackie): Like her friend, Karen also has a crush on Colin. She is often known as Jackie.[4][5][6]
- Phil Johnson as Andrews: Andrews is a young smoker who seems to want to become like Reilly/Digga.
- Robert Guy as Ronson: A young boy who stirs up trouble at the zoo.
- Simon Driver as Kevin: A younger kid with a football.
- Michael Clifton as Jimmy: Kevin's friend.
- Maurice McNall as Maurice: A younger kid.
- Michael Spencer as Milton: The class geek.
Shopkeepers[3]
- Iona Bankes as Mrs Roberts: Gets shoplifted by the kids.
- Jill Richards as Waitress: Assistant to Mrs Roberts.
Other Adults[3]
- George Malpas as Les: The lollipop man.
- Bill Moores as Ronny Suttcliffe: Driver of the coach who gets tricked by Mrs Kay.
- Peter Tilbury as The Animal Keeper
Musical numbers
Act 1
- We're Goin' Out - Carol and kids
- Mrs Kay's Progress Class - Kids
- Got A Packed Lunch - Kids
- Boss Of The Bus - Ronny and Kids
- Instructions On Enjoyment - Mr Briggs
- We're Off - Kids
- Look At The Dogs/Our day out (The travelling song) - Company
- The Mersey Tunnal - Kids
- It's Borin', Bleeding Borin' - Bored Girls
- Straight Line - Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay
- Penny Chews - Kids
- I'm In Love With Sir - Linda, Jackie and Kids
- Zoo Song - Bored girls and Kids
- Our Day Out - Kids
Act 2
- Castle Song - Mr Briggs, Kids, Linda Jackie and Colin
- Beach Song - Bored girls and Kids
- I Know You Like Her - Susan
- Why Can't It Always Be This Way (Carol's Song) - Carol
- Fairground Song - Kids
- Everywhere We Go - Kids
- Ay Ay Yippee Yippee Ay - Kids
- We Had A Really Great Day Out - Company
- Finale: No One Can Take This Time Away - Company
Differences from play
The most noticeable difference from the play was the omission of the characters 'John' and 'Mac', who, in the play, are the shop owners who get robbed. Other than this, the film has no considerable differences from the novel.
Notes
- ^ a b c Date Confusion: The Willy Russell website gives the date of the original film as 1976, stating that it was repeated six weeks later as part of the Play For Today series. However, the repeat date is documented as 7th February 1978, and the Play of the Week series in which the film was originally shown did not begin until September 1977, so a first broadcast in December 1977 seems more likely.
- ^ "Our Day Out". ClassicUKTV.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
- ^ a b c d e "Willy Russell: Our Day Out - the film". WillyRussell.com. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ "Our Day Out 1985". The Queen's Theatre. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Our Day Out". Woodley Players Theatre Company. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Our Day Out - Fisher Theatre October 2006". Fisher Youth Theatre Group. Retrieved 2008-07-03.