‘Tunes of Glory’ is a superb piece of live theatre utilising, a phenomenal cast, an amazing set, fabulous costumes, clever direction, projected images, magical piping and drumming. Taking the audience on a nostalgic journey through a roller coaster of emotions culminating in a shocking and unexpected ending. One of the very best straight plays I have seen, I look forward to seeing more from Middle Ground Theatre Productions.

Acting Colonel, Major Jock Sinclair (Stuart McGugan) lives for his regiment having risen through its ranks, via a stint in the Bar-L, it is the greatest love of his life along with

his daughter Morag (Meg Faragher). His hard drinking, wild stormy ways are put in jeopardy by the appointment of Colonel Basil Barrow (Richard Walsh). His disappointment is closely followed by the discovery his daughter is seeing Corporal Piper Ian Fraser (John Milroy).

Colonel Barrow’s by-the-book ways clash with the current regime and tension builds daily. Despite being a POW Barrow has been a pen pusher and teacher for years, he is determined to restore his regiment to what he sees as its former glory, he longs to have his portrait on the walls along with those of his grandfather and great-grandfather.  The mess sees officers slowly divide drifting towards one camp or another, those rising through the ranks differing from those through university or Sandhurst training, former close friends finding wedges being driven between them.

Sinclair’s best friend Major Charles Scott MC (Michael Lunney), himself a university graduate, almost seems to be playing devils advocate pitting each camp against the other.

The tragic events and devastating outcomes are as shocking as they are inevitable beautifully portrayed and performed by all the actors.

Michael Lunney not only performs in the show but is also the Designer, Director and Producer of ‘Tunes of Glory’, having taken it upon himself to adapt this stage show from the 1960’s BAFTA-winning film starring Alec Guinness and John Mills. His set, direction and production along with a superb cast have created an amazing evenings entertainment suitable for theatre audiences of all ages yet it will definitely mean so much more to those with a background in the services or those mature enough to remember the 40’s and 50’s.

The use of The London Scottish Regiment’s Pipes and Drums in the original film has been repeated by the use of recordings of the same regiment in the original costumes projected on to a screen on stage. These costumes also used on stage reflect the authenticity of the piece and I look forward to seeing other Middle Ground Theatre productions. See www.middlegroundtheatre.co.uk for further information and dates.

Cast; Laurence Aldridge, Rupert Baker, Alexander Caine, Meg Faragher, Gregor Hunt, John Langford, Simon Linnell, Michael Lunney, Stuart McGugan, Callum McIntosh, John Milroy, Amanda Osborne, Chloe Singer, James Sutherland and Richard Walsh.