DURING the dark days of the Second World War, Britain had a particularly effective weapon in its arsenal: entertainment.

So suggests Paul Laidlaw, who has devised and directed York Musical Theatre Company’s light-hearted look back to the songs and sketches of the Forties, When The Lights Go On Again.

First staged by the company in 2005 and revived at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in September 2007, this wartime revue will rise again at York Theatre Royal from Thursday to Saturday.

“For a nation coping with the Blitz and the blackout it was the singers, comedians and musicians who helped to alleviate some of the stress, fear and trauma which was a constant feature of everyday life,” says Paul.

“The cinema had its part to play with patriotic films such as In Which We Serve, Reach For The Sky and The Dam Busters, while radio, or rather ‘the wireless’, contributed ITMA, Bandwagon and Much Binding In The Marsh.

“Classical concerts continued to be given throughout the war, most notably those performed by Dame Myra Hess at the National Gallery, where her rendition of Sheep May Safely Graze while the bombs dropped was something of a favourite. Opera and ballet also continued at the Royal Opera House, although the works of Richard Wagner, a favourite of Hitler, were rarely heard again in England until well after hostilities ceased.”

The world of variety raised the spirits of the nation perhaps more than any other art form, reckons Paul.

“Although the theatres were initially closed at the outbreak of war as a safety precaution, it soon became apparent that shows and concerts would have an uplifting effect on the general population,” he says.

“In a matter of weeks they were once again open for business, rarely cancelling a performance, even at the height of the Blitz, and giving the Windmill Theatre in the heart of London the aphorism ‘We Never Closed’.”

When The Lights Go On Again is a recollection of the “kind of evening enjoyed by thousands of ordinary people during some of the blackest days that Britain has seen”. Along with many of the most unforgettable songs of the period, it also contains memories of Max Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Rob Wilton and The Radio Doctor.

“This show is our tribute to the countless performers who helped, albeit briefly, to make the world seem a better place and to ‘turn the dark clouds inside out till the boys come home’,” says Paul.

Next week’s performances marks the farewell of York Musical Theatre Company performer, musician and publicist Anna Mitchelson, who is leaving her post as press and marketing manager at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough to join the Royal Shakespeare Company.

“When The Lights Go On Again is a variety show, so it’s a great one to do as my last one as we all get lots of different bits all through it,” says Anna.

“I’m involved as an Andrews Sister in the American part of the show, and I’ll also be playing one half of the comedy duo of the time, Gert and Daisy, as well as Dandini in the very popular Cinderella section and Carmen Miranda with fruit basket, bangles, earrings... and even male dancers.”

Looking back on her York Musical Theatre Company adventures, Anna says: “There’ve been so many happy memories with all the shows, almost too many to choose from. Each show has brought a different set of experiences and laughs and the amount we all enjoy doing them is the exact reason we all do them.

“Meeting everyone in the company and making some real lifelong friends has been fantastic, but the show that really stands out is Oklahoma!, which we did in 2006. I played Ado Annie with Sam Coulson as Will Parker, who’s now gone off to study at RADA, and playing such a great comedy role in a musical with such amazing songs in it was something I’ll never forget.”

York Musical Theatre Company presents When The Lights Go On Again at York Theatre Royal, May 21 to 23 at 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets: £5 to £16 on 01904 623568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

* York Musical Theatre Company members will be in costume in Parliament Street, York, tomorrow from 11am to 3pm, with a genuine US Army truck, giveaways, live music from the show and a 1940s children’s street party. Yorkshire Air Museum staff will be there too, selling museum merchandise.

Charles Hutchinson