Live theatre is an experience that should be open to all. This is an opportunity.

My name is Peter Maher.

I am 84 years old, married and have two grown up daughters. I like to be active mentally and physically and prefer ageing disgracefully to ageing 'well'.

I play the part of the General. The General is an upper class army officer. He commands with a stiff upper lip and is a trifle arrogant. He does however mellow as the war progresses.

I am most looking forward to performing at the National Mining Museum Scotland however I feel that engaging the public and revisiting local history is also very important.

One of my favourite quotes from the General would be when he says he "believes in" Annie Swan as this shows a new understanding on his part.

Live theatre is an experience that should be open to all. This is an opportunity.

I am most looking forward to our audience coming along to see the show and for them to really enjoy it and have a lovely night. Its going to be lots of fun.

My name is Benji Masson. I have acted at the Edinburgh playhouse I am also in a local drama group and above all I love acting!

I play the part of Peters a young man on the frontline of the first world war. Peters was conscripted to the war, he is too young to be there but he ended up there none the less. When we meet Peters he is very down, dull and tired from staying awake all night fighting on the front line.

I am most looking forward to our audience coming along to see the show and for them to really enjoy it and have a lovely night. Its going to be lots of fun.

Our audience should come and see this show because everyone involved is working so hard to make it spectacular. I have really loved spending time with the lovely cast and creative team.

Our audience can expect to see a new drama which is very interesting but will also move them to tears at times. If I wasn’t in it, I’d definitely want to come and see it. 

My names is Marion and I live in Dalkeith.

I’m retired and enjoying every minute of it. My last job was as a clerk/admin assistant with John Lewis. I have been acting for a number of years now and I’m a member of the Edinburgh People’s Theatre.

My characters names is Jeannie. She is married with 2 grown up sons. Both her husband and sons are away fighting. Jeannie forms part of a larger group of women who come together as a community kitchen group to share rations and make their food go further. She joined the group to help but also to try and take her mind off  of the thought of her family being in danger.

I had never heard of Annie Swan before this play, I am enjoying hearing and seeing it all unfold. I'm most looking forward to bringing this play to the local Gorebridge community that Annie was herself from.

Our audience should come along because this is a true story. A story about someone not many people might have heard of. A story of one woman’s life and her family at the time of the great war. Our audience can expect to see a new drama which is very interesting but will also move them to tears at times. If I wasn’t in it, I’d definitely want to come and see it. 

I am having a great time rehearsing this play and I am most looking forward to getting to wear my costume.

My name is Bronwen Dunant.

 I am from Carlisle and have lived in Scotland for 15 years, particlarly I have lived in Gorebridge for 2 and a half years.  I live with my daughter Cerys who is also in the show my partner Chris and dog, Milly.  I am getting married in November.

I play the character of the Office Clerk.  She seems like a normal office clerk but she is infact  harbouring a deep unrequited love for her boss, Herbert Hoover. I think given my characters lust for Mr Hoover a fantastic quote which is not in the script however maybe should be is, ‘Would you like to discuss that over dinner, Mr Hoover?’

I am having a great time rehearsing this play and I am most looking forward to getting to wear my costume.

Our audience should come and see this show because it is a fantastic script, and a great opportunity to support your community and learn something about your local history. Our audience can expect lots of laughter and maybe even a little tear.

People should come and see our play because all the actors are fantastic and this play will give our audience a real insight into Britain at war.

My Name is Courtney Simpson.

I am 14 years old and I have really enjoyed acting with everyone including Matt in this experience. My characters name is Maid. I am Annie's Maid when she is at home in Scotland. Annie refers to me as her Belgian Friend. This is a really interesting remark as it made me think and research Annie's relationship with Belgium. I discovered that Annie was an active supporter of Belgian refugees even welcoming some of them to stay with her at her home.

I am most looking forward to performing in the National Mining Museum Scotland with everyone. I can't wait to see our play completed in its entirety, finally seeing how it looks with everyone on stage.

People should come and see our play because all the actors are fantastic and this play will give our audience a real insight into Britain at war. Our audience should expect a performance that is emotional in parts but also very happy. A really fantastic show.

Matt and the crew are putting so much effort into this for us and its amazing.

I am looking forward to sharing the Annie Swan story with the locals. Plays used to be a frequent event in the area and it is great to revive that tradition.

My name is Elaine Robertson.

Currently I am an Apprentice storyteller.  I have worked in libraries for 25 years and have been involved in heritage work with P6 in Stobhill Primary. They were great! I regularly volunteer at Dalkeith History Museum. 

I play the part of The Narrator. The Narrator fills in the background story for our audience and helps to set the scene for the characters. This is an incredibly important role as I have to discuss some of the most complex issues in the play. The Narrator also lists things that were invented in Scotland which I really like because sometimes I feel we forget what a great nation we are "and we’re not shy!"

I am looking forward to sharing the Annie Swan story with the locals. Plays used to be a frequent event in the area and it is great to revive that tradition.

Annie Swan was and still is inspirational and we all need a bit of inspiration! Bring your children they will love hearing about the history of the area. When you come along to see this play you can expect a thought provoking and entertaining experience. 

Annie Swan was a Gorebridge girl, the majority of the cast are locals, and it is being shown in a local venue. Come along to celebrate and support your community!

My name is Katie Davies.

Originally from the Highlands I moved to Gorebridge in 2016 and this play has been a fantastic opportunity to get more involved with the community and meet new people in the area I now live. 

I play Effie Swan in her late teens/early twenties. Effie is the daughter of Annie and James Swan. By this point she has grown into a quietly confident, mature and compassionate young woman. Despite her own personal struggles she is always looking for ways to support others – much like her mother.

I can’t wait to see the final production once all of the individual elements – the acting, the lighting, the costumes etc. - come together. I am also very much looking forward to the buzz, excitement and nerves of performing to a live audience and to share that experience with an amazing cast and crew. For many of us, this will be the first time acting on stage since our school years and I know that everyone will be hugely supportive of each other helping each other beat the nerves and put on a great show! 

The diversity of this cast is brilliant to see, hopefully it encourages others to get into this field. Enjoy the show!

My name is Karl McCran. 

This will be the first play that I have done since early high school, and I am certainly not regretting the decision as I have had a great time so far with Matt and the rest of the cast.

Herbert Hoover is the only named part that I will be playing, but I also play the Priest and one of the Soldiers. Herbert Hoover at the time of this play was the head of food administration during the first world war, before he became the 31st president of the United States of course. The meeting between Mrs Annie Swan and Mr Hoover proved vital in the efforts to aid troops on the front line and also improve relations between the US and UK. The priest arguably has one of the most serious and sombre scenes in the play, its certainly a fun challenge trying to get the correct tone and presence across as I am normally a pretty happy guy! The soldier scene has the potential to be the funniest scene in the play, so I am excited to work with the others. The specific lines my soldier has to say allow for a bit more “attitude” to be shown which gives me a lot of freedom to express.

It seems to change every week! I was originally excited to start reading through the script with everyone, then it was the venue (National Mining Museum of Scotland) and hearing how we had been given the opportunity to perform there. THEN the props and costumes… I’m having a great time, so there are quite a few thing that I am looking forward to.