Our Day Out is a musical with the book and music written by Willy Russell that premiered in 1983.[1] It is an adaptation of the 1977 TV-movie Our Day Out.
The musical was developed from the 1977 BBC television play "Our Day Out" by Willy Russell. 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 and Kate Roland, was first performed at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool in 1983.[2]
The musical is about students from an inner-city school in Liverpool who go on a trip to Conwy Castle in Wales. Mrs Kay teaches a class of illiterate pupils, called the "Progress Class". At the very last minute, the disciplinarian Deputy Headteacher, Mr Briggs, also joins.
Plotedit
A group of pupils in a Progress Class at a secondary school in a deprived part of Liverpool are going on a trip to Conwy Castle, but they misbehave. Before the trip they leave they buy sweets and the deputy head disciplinarian teacher, Mr Briggs, joins them. On the journey, they visit several attractions - a cafe, a zoo, the beach (Conwy Castle) and (afterwards) a fun fair. Whilst the children shoplift and generally make trouble, an older boy, Reilly hits on his young teacher, Susan, who shakes off his attentions by suggesting he turn his attention to the pretty young Linda, who had been trying it on with her own boyfriend, Colin. At the castle, they end up losing one of the children, Carol.
Mr. Briggs finds Carol on the cliffs as she laments the necessity of returning to her troubled home life. He shouts at her to return but when she threatens to jump off the cliff, he softens and gently talks her down. In an uncharacteristic moment, Mr. Briggs takes the children to the fun fair, where Mrs. Kay gently mocks him for enjoying himself, saying she has the photographs to prove he is not all that bad. Briggs offers to develop the photographs for her, but later, after a moments sad reflection, exposes them to the light.
The reviewer of the 2010 production wrote: "Russell has the ability to inject, into what is superficially a jolly knees-up, social comment and human understanding. Amid all the comedy and music is a serious view of kids and education that is the same today as yesterday."[3]
The major themes in Our Day Out are the lack of education, lack of opportunity and deprivation in inner city Liverpool equalling unemployment and no money for education because of this. Willy Russell makes this point very clear to the audience by using characters that the level of deprivation is really effecting e.g. Carol- her lack of education is very obviously troubling her as she would like to get a good job, however is not bright enough to do so because of the lack of education.
Characters
Mrs Helen Kay: Teacher of the Progress Class. (In her early 40s)
Susan: Helps Mrs Kay look after the children. (Early twenties)
Colin: Another helper of Mrs Kay; he is teased by Reilly & Digga because he is dating Susan. (Early twenties)
Mr John Briggs: Deputy Headmaster; he is very strict and tries to discipline the children. (Early thirties)
The Headmaster: Sends Mr Briggs to supervise the children.
Ronny Suttcliffe: Driver of the coach who gets tricked by Mrs Kay to teach him a lesson about not to be stingy with the kids background.
Kids
Carol: First and last character seen in the play. (13)
Reilly: Class bully. (15)
Digga: Reilly's 'assistant'. (15)
Linda: Has a crush on Colin. (15)
Karen: Linda's friend; has a crush on Colin. (15)
Andrews: Andrews is addicted to smoking and does not have a very good life at home. His parents too, especially his dad, are addicted to smoking. (13)
Ronson: A minor character in the play. He is seen in a conversation at the zoo with Mr. Briggs and Andrews. (13)
Kevin: Another minor character, he is seen in an encounter with Mrs. Kay on the beach. Twelve years old. (12)
Jimmy: A student from the Progress Class. (12)
Maurice: The kid who brings the sweets to the coach. (12)
Shopkeepers
Mrs Roberts: Foresees what might happen to her if she lets the children into her café and forbids them from entering.
Waitress: Works in Mrs Roberts's café.
John: Shop owner who gets robbed by the kids.
Mac: Shop owner who gets robbed by the kids.
Other Adults
Les: The lollipop man.
The Animal Keeper: He shouts at the kids for stealing animals from the zoo.
Musical numbersedit
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 Tunnel - 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, Karen and Kids
Zoo Song - Bored girls and Kids
Our Day Out - Kids
Act 2
Castle Song - Mr Briggs, Kids, Linda, Karen and Colin
Beach Song (short) - Bored girls and Kids
I Know You Like Her - Susan
Why Can't It Always Be This Way (Carol's Song) - Carol
^ abCox, Annie. "Willy Russell’s Our Day Out OffersYouth Actors a Week to Remember at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds" stagereview.co.uk, 16 May 2017
^ ab"Theatre review: Our Day Out - The Musical/ Royal Court, Liverpool" old.liverpoolconfidential.co.uk, 3 September 2010
External linksedit
Our Day Out at Russell site
October 29, 2023
musical, musical, with, book, music, written, willy, russell, that, premiered, 1983, adaptation, 1977, movie, outbook, cover, from, heinemann, plays, series, 1993musicwilly, russell, chris, mellor, eatonbookwilly, russellsettingliverpool, england, 1970sbasisou. Our Day Out is a musical with the book and music written by Willy Russell that premiered in 1983 1 It is an adaptation of the 1977 TV movie Our Day Out Our Day OutBook cover from Heinemann Plays series 1993MusicWilly Russell Chris Mellor Bob EatonBookWilly RussellSettingLiverpool England 1970sBasisOur Day Out teleplay Premiere1983 Everyman Theatre LiverpoolProductions2009 Royal Court Theatre2017 Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Contents 1 Origins and development 2 Overview 3 Plot 4 Analysis 5 Musical numbers 6 References 7 External linksOrigins and development editThe musical was developed from the 1977 BBC television play Our Day Out by Willy Russell 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 and Kate Roland was first performed at the Everyman Theatre Liverpool in 1983 2 In 2009 Russell rewrote the musical and updated to a more modern feeling It premiered in the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool in 2010 3 The updated version was performed outside Liverpool at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from 24 Aug 2 September 2017 2 Overview editThe musical is about students from an inner city school in Liverpool who go on a trip to Conwy Castle in Wales Mrs Kay teaches a class of illiterate pupils called the Progress Class At the very last minute the disciplinarian Deputy Headteacher Mr Briggs also joins Plot editA group of pupils in a Progress Class at a secondary school in a deprived part of Liverpool are going on a trip to Conwy Castle but they misbehave Before the trip they leave they buy sweets and the deputy head disciplinarian teacher Mr Briggs joins them On the journey they visit several attractions a cafe a zoo the beach Conwy Castle and afterwards a fun fair Whilst the children shoplift and generally make trouble an older boy Reilly hits on his young teacher Susan who shakes off his attentions by suggesting he turn his attention to the pretty young Linda who had been trying it on with her own boyfriend Colin At the castle they end up losing one of the children Carol Mr Briggs finds Carol on the cliffs as she laments the necessity of returning to her troubled home life He shouts at her to return but when she threatens to jump off the cliff he softens and gently talks her down In an uncharacteristic moment Mr Briggs takes the children to the fun fair where Mrs Kay gently mocks him for enjoying himself saying she has the photographs to prove he is not all that bad Briggs offers to develop the photographs for her but later after a moments sad reflection exposes them to the light Analysis editThis section possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed March 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The reviewer of the 2010 production wrote Russell has the ability to inject into what is superficially a jolly knees up social comment and human understanding Amid all the comedy and music is a serious view of kids and education that is the same today as yesterday 3 The major themes in Our Day Out are the lack of education lack of opportunity and deprivation in inner city Liverpool equalling unemployment and no money for education because of this Willy Russell makes this point very clear to the audience by using characters that the level of deprivation is really effecting e g Carol her lack of education is very obviously troubling her as she would like to get a good job however is not bright enough to do so because of the lack of education Characters Mrs Helen Kay Teacher of the Progress Class In her early 40s Susan Helps Mrs Kay look after the children Early twenties Colin Another helper of Mrs Kay he is teased by Reilly amp Digga because he is dating Susan Early twenties Mr John Briggs Deputy Headmaster he is very strict and tries to discipline the children Early thirties The Headmaster Sends Mr Briggs to supervise the children Ronny Suttcliffe Driver of the coach who gets tricked by Mrs Kay to teach him a lesson about not to be stingy with the kids background Kids Carol First and last character seen in the play 13 Reilly Class bully 15 Digga Reilly s assistant 15 Linda Has a crush on Colin 15 Karen Linda s friend has a crush on Colin 15 Andrews Andrews is addicted to smoking and does not have a very good life at home His parents too especially his dad are addicted to smoking 13 Ronson A minor character in the play He is seen in a conversation at the zoo with Mr Briggs and Andrews 13 Kevin Another minor character he is seen in an encounter with Mrs Kay on the beach Twelve years old 12 Jimmy A student from the Progress Class 12 Maurice The kid who brings the sweets to the coach 12 Shopkeepers Mrs Roberts Foresees what might happen to her if she lets the children into her cafe and forbids them from entering Waitress Works in Mrs Roberts s cafe John Shop owner who gets robbed by the kids Mac Shop owner who gets robbed by the kids Other Adults Les The lollipop man The Animal Keeper He shouts at the kids for stealing animals from the zoo Musical numbers editAct 1We 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 Tunnel 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 Karen and Kids Zoo Song Bored girls and Kids Our Day Out Kids Act 2Castle Song Mr Briggs Kids Linda Karen and Colin Beach Song short 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 CompanyReferences edit Russell Willy 1993 Our Day Out United Kingdom Heinemann Educational Publishers pp ix ISBN 0 435 23301 7 a b Cox Annie Willy Russell s Our Day Out OffersYouth Actors a Week to Remember at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds stagereview co uk 16 May 2017 a b Theatre review Our Day Out The Musical Royal Court Liverpool old liverpoolconfidential co uk 3 September 2010External links editOur Day Out at Russell site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Our Day Out musical amp oldid 1174149890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
