Context of Blue Remembered Hills

Original performance conditions:

Original actors-

(The actors are adults, but play the children.)

Donald- Colin Jeavons

Peter- Michael Elphick

Willie- Colin Welland

John- Robin Ellis

Raymond- John Bird

Angela- Helen Mirren

Audrey- Janine Duvitski

Narrator- Dennis Potter

It was shown on BBC’s ‘play for today’ series. It was directed by Brian Gibson, and produced by Kenith Trodd. It was originally broadcasted on January the 30^th, 1979.

Socio-historic context-

Gender:

You could argue that the representation of gender in the play is quite stereotypical. There are only two girls, and we are introduced to both during a game called ‘house’. This involves them playing a wife and a nurse and taking care of the “dad”: a boy called Donald. During this, they also play with a doll and pram. This is a conventionally “girly” game, and their choice of roles and what they entail also impacts on this. The fact that when they could pretend to be anything they selected a wife and nurse (not even a doctor), implies they feel limited; also, the wife role is played as having to dote on the husband.

Age:

Age is a prominent theme to the play. The characters are children of around seven, played by actors who are adults. This could suggest a number of things. Firstly, it could convey the microcosmic nature of the play: the acts the children do are generalizable to all ages. It could also suggest the effect war has on children; it is as if they have to grow up earlier than they would otherwise have to. On the other hand, it could be conveying the idiosyncrasies of children more melodramatically; the age difference means they are greatly emphasized, to the point of it being humorous.

Mental illness:

Mental illness is referred to quite derogatorily in the play. Willy’s dad is deemed weak and useless by Peter as he is not fighting in the war (WW2). As Peter hasn’t been aware of any physical disability, nor are we told if he is a conscientious objector (which it is safe to assume he would be aware of as it was often the case that conscientious objectors were arrested), it is highly likely that Willy’s father suffers from a mental illness.

Expectations within society:

As previously mentioned, the play appears to be a microcosmic representation of society. So the expectations society has for those within it are clearly demonstrated. Willy and Peter are shown enacting the roles of their relatives in the army at the start of the play. Willy is an RAF piolet in a spitfire, and Peter is a parachutist. This is suggestive of the expectation that men should contribute to the war effort. Also mentioned prior to this, is the clear expectation for women to be wives and have occupations such as nursing. 

Blue Remembered Hills Mrs Griffifths Theory