Military Wives now playing at York Theatre Royal carries a reputation and a risk of viewer fatigue along with it.

By Angie Millard

Photos by Danny With A Camera

I had seen the TV documentary programmes of Gareth Malone and marvelled at his vision and tenacity. I had heard of the 13 years of growth in this project resulting in 71 choirs being established. Respect!

But after the film, was I ready for the theatrical show?

The piece rests on the challenges faced by a group of wives who are married to soldiers. The families move around in the UK managing the six months postings overseas and constant upheaval. A colonel’s wife decides to form a choir, and a choir leader is employed. Gradually, this enthusiastic character, played with immense energy by Bobbie Little, gathers her choir together and propels them forward to success as singers and a final appearance at The Royal Albert Hall’s memorial concert.

Phew!

It’s easy to accept all this without seeing the problems which would naturally occur. In the group of wives, we meet the obvious stereotypes: a newly married insecure young bride, a mother of five, a pregnant woman, a lesbian who is undergoing IVF without success, a woman who believes her marriage is over, a deeply religious person and finally the bossy entitled wife of the Colonel.

All these characters tell their own story, most of them have never sung before but somehow, they come together through the power of music.

Modern pop songs are used through the links to their personal lives and somehow are integrated into the plot. I suppose the music is sentimentalised, but it is rarely intrusive. Gradually, it becomes the final presentation they give as a choir. 

Meanwhile, their husbands and partners are seen in battle and, in quiet times, tackling their problems of separation and loss. One soldier is injured and Adam, the newly married squaddie, is killed. Joe Kelly’s performance in this role is sensitively achieved.

The designer, Kate Lias, uses blocks and boxes cleverly to create a flexible set, Richard Brooker uses explosive sound effectively and the music is arranged and orchestrated masterfully by George Dyer.

The director and writer, Debbie Isitt, had a difficult job managing the sentimental overtones, but she controlled it by changes of atmosphere and contrast of mood. She says in the programme that theatre to her is about the power of imagination and suggestion, mixing heightened abstract ideas with emotional truth. My only reservation is that in her quest to entertain she comes close to making fun of what is a serious issue and doesn’t fully support her avowed aim to show “a new found respect for the amazing women who live with or are married to members of the military and all that they endure and overcome.” 

Despite a little reservation on my part, I was moved and forced to confront unpleasant truths. I must complain however about the ghastly scarlet outfits the actors wore to The Albert Hall performance. Pantomime raised its head when a little dignity was needed.

The audience adored the production and gave the cast a standing ovation and I hope left the theatre thinking of the seriousness of the overall message too.

Military Wives is being performed at York Theatre Royal until 27 September 2025.