"The British don't know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don't know how to make a good cup of tea. It's an even swap."
It's 1942 and a horde of Yankee servicemen have just arrived in England - where the locals speak a strange dialect, boil all their food, and talk endlessly about the weather...
Inspired by the World War Two pamphlet given to GIs on their way to Blighty, Instructions For American Servicemen in Britain journeys back to the British home front, where two American officers have been charged with explaining British life to their recently arrived compatriots. The problem is, they've only just arrived themselves. Will the plucky team succeed in explaining the quirks and customs of everyday British life? Or will Hitler's propaganda split the allies asunder? The future of the free world hangs in the balance.
Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain is a joyous, affectionate and contagiously silly comedy of British manners. The production has sold out two UK tours over the past couple of years, receiving standing ovations and rave reviews along the way.
Described as an 'Ordnance survey map' of Britain's psyche, the original Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain was re-published by the Bodleian Library in 2005. Since then it has become a treasured reminder of both the country's finest hour and its strangest eccentricities. Inspired by this snapshot of wartime Britain, critically acclaimed theatre company Fol Espoir has joined forces with sketch-comedy trio The Real MacGuffins to create a perfectly suited mix of sketch- comedy, history and theatre.
Fol Espoir (which means 'foolish hope') is dedicated to creating innovative and exciting new work. Previous shows include 2010's underground hit Dr Brown Because (four-stars in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent and Time Out) and 2012's award-winning Winston On the Run. Since its creation in 2015, Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain has toured to over fifty UK venues.
www.folespoir.co.uk.
The Real MacGuffins (aka Dan March, Jim Millard and
Matt Sheahan), creators of irreverent, silly and inventive sketches, have performed their unique brand of sketch comedy across the country. Talented performers in their own rights, their individual credits range from
Sam Mendes' Olivier-award-winning Merrily We Roll Along to popular sitcoms such as Miranda, Lee Nelson's Well Funny People, and Pramface.
www.therealmacguffins.com
Instructions For American Servicemen in Britain ends Jermyn Street Theatre's Summer Season which also includes the world premiere of
Stephen Unwin's All Our Children and the UK Premiere of
Maxim Gorky's The Last Ones.
Jermyn Street Theatre
July 3 - July 29 2017
For tickets and more information, visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk.
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