A production by a Hertfordshire playwright hits Sheffield
Operation Crucible opens for the first time in the city since the pandemic
Last updated 28th Aug 2021
A play written by 36- year-old Kieran Knowles who lives in Hertfordshire has returned to the Sheffield Crucible this week for the first time since the pandemic.
Knowles has previously written other successful plays such as ‘Cornerstone’ and ’31 Hours’ amongst others, often based from his writing shed in Tring.
He wrote ‘Operation Crucible’ to reflect on the Sheffield Blitz; a turbulent few nights which took place in December 1940 after the German Lutwaffe bombing. The play evokes the emotions of four characters created by Knowles who navigate their way through the Sheffield Blitz, all taking on different perspectives.
The play been acclaimed as four-star London production, adapted to be played on BBC Radio 4, and was even featured as A New York Times Critic’s Pick in 2018.
Cast in the play is Salvatore D’Aquilla, Christopher McCurry, James Wallwork and Knowles himself.
Taking on a new meaning
It will be the first performance the Crucible is holding after 18 months of theatre being side-lined since the outbreak of Covid-19 swept across the country. Knowles has noted that the sentiment of the play may have more weight to it now as it comes back to life following such an unstable year and a half for many people.
He said:
“We’re opening the Sheffield Crucible after the pandemic; there’s no play that’s been on there since March 2020. So we’re the first thing that’s there, and the first line of our play is: ‘I’m out! Finally, I’m out!’ and that’s always been the first line, it’s not been written especially for this but I do think that it’s got extra special meaning.”
As audiences return to theatre and other large gatherings around the UK, there has been a sense of electricity and expectation among crowds, and as the Hertfordshire writer returns to the stage he said that it was a key moment for everybody.
Knowles added:
“It’s great to be back out on stage doing what we love; and audience coming in and watching a play, hopefully they’re doing what they love… and all of us having had this sort of collective experience that’s probably the most comparable thing to a war effort or major disaster that certainly has happened in my lifetimes, and probably most people’s lifetimes.”
“There’s definitely some resonance there that wasn’t there before.”