Our Day Out

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Our Day Out
Directed by Pedr James
Produced by Pedr James
Written by Willy Russell
Starring Jean Heywood
Alun Armstrong
Elizabeth Estensen
Lennox Greaves
Robert Gillespie
George Malpas
Jill Richards
Iona Banks
Peter Tilbury
Release date(s) 1977[1]
Running time 70 minutes
Language English
IMDb profile

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 in December 1977[1].

Contents

[edit] 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, and was also re-broadcast in 1979.

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.

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.

[edit] Synopsis

The play centers 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. 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 and that they don't work hard enough.

[edit] 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. Very similar to Blood Brothers in the way that it both picks up on the life that the working class kids have.

[edit] Main Characters

Teachers

  • Mrs Kay: Teacher of the Progress Class; in her early forties.
  • Susan: Helps Mrs Kay look after the children; early twenties.
  • Colin: Another helper of Mrs Kay; he is teased by Reilly & Digga and is in his early twenties.
  • Mr Briggs: Deputy Headmaster; he is very strict and tries to discipline the children.
  • The Headmaster: Sends Mr Briggs to supervise the children.

Kids

  • Carol: Shy and ignored; a deep thinker .
  • Reilly: Class bully.
  • Digga: Class bully.
  • The Bored girls: two girls with attitude problems.
  • Linda: Superficial, in love with Colin.
  • Karen(Jackie): Superficial .
  • Andrews - A Digga/Reilly wannabe.
  • Ronson - has a slight problem of downsyndrome
  • Kevin - A younger kid with a football
  • Jimmy - Kevin's friend
  • Maurice - A younger kid
  • Milton -

Shopkeepers

  • Mrs Roberts: Foresees what might happen if she let the kids go in her Cafe.
  • Waitress: Assistant to Mrs.Roberts.
  • Mac: A shopkeeper who tries to cheat the kids. He gets shoplifted along with John.
  • John: A shopkeeper who tries to cheat the kids. He gets shoplifted along with Mac

Other Adults

  • Les: The slightly blind lollipop man.
  • Ronny Suttcliffe: Driver of the coach who gets tricked by Mrs Kay.
  • The Animal Keeper

[edit] Song list

  • We're going out - Carol and kids
  • Mrs Kay's progress class - Kids
  • Got a packed lunch - Kids
  • Boss of the Bus - Ronny and Kids
  • Instructions for enjoyment - Mr Briggs
  • We're off - Kids
  • 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
  • Pennychews - Kids
  • I'm in Love with Sir - Linda, Jackie and Kids
  • Zoo Song - Bored girls and Kids
  • Castle song - Mr Briggs, Kids, Linda Jackie and Colin
  • Beach Song - Bored girls and Kids
  • I know you like her - Susan
  • Carol's Song - Carol
  • The fair - Kids
  • Mighty Progress - Kids
  • Ay Ay Yippee Yippee Ay - Kids
  • Coming Back - Company
  • No one can take this time away - Company

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ 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.


[edit] See also

Our Day Out book

[edit] External links


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