THE children of Mike and Nikki Sly, stalwarts of the Swindon drama scene, are proving to be chips off the old block as they tread the boards alongside their parents.

Max and Annie Sly are taking part in the autumn production of Oh! What A Lovely War by the Phoenix Players at Swindon’s Arts Centre, in Devizes Road, Old Town, from Wednesday, September 24 to Saturday, September 27.

The players’ new season starts with their own tribute to the centenary that marks the start of the First World War.

Emma Palmer, from the Phoenix Players, said: “It is our tribute to all those who fought and died in this terrible conflict. We will be producing the satire on the First World War and by extension war in general.

“The story is told using facts and statistics together with reminiscences and songs of the time including many well loved First World War songs.’’

The Phoenix Players began as a drama group in 1954 forming from a core of members from The Poetry Circle, who met at the arts centre to read and discuss poetry and verse plays.

The first play they performed was by Christopher Fry and called The Firstborn.

Since then, each year the theatre company has put on a wide variety of plays by writers such as Alan Aychbourn and Neil Simon, plus an adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford. Last year’s successes included Dead Guilty, a psychological thriller, and a comedy entitled Queen Elizabeth Slept Here.

Around 40 aspiring actors and back stage crew make up the Phoenix Players, who rehearse at New College in Queen’s Drive on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Emma says that being a member is like joining an extended family and along with the performances the company meet up for social occasions. “We have summer barbecues, after show suppers, trips to other theatres and a Christmas buffet,” she said.

Oh! What A lovely War was made into a full length film in 1969 starring Dirk Bogarde, John Gielgud, John Mills, Kenneth More and Laurence Olivier. It was directed by Richard Attenborough, and taking up that baton for the Phoenix Players’ version is Daphne Breakspear, who received a British Empire Medal last year for her services to drama.

  • Tickets to see Oh What A Lovely War, in Swindon, which begins at 7.30pm, are £10 and £9 concessions and they are available from 07517 698083.