Review: The Last Bantam by Michael Hughes at Etcetera Theatre 8 December 2025
‘Simple but educatively compelling’ ★★★
Inspired by real events, this show is an unusually straightforward little (50 minutes) piece. Writer and performer Michael Hughes simply, but quite effectively, tells the story of one soldier’s experience in World War One from 1914 to 1918.
Patrick is a science teacher from Dublin desperately wanting to do his duty when war is declared. He also believes if Irish men fight with the British it will bring Home Rule for Ireland after the war as a quasi reward. But his short, stocky stature counts against him. Eventually, after walking all over England from city to city he enrols with the Bantams. These special Battalions recruited 30,000 men with heights between 5 foot and 5 foot three inches. Losses were high and by March 1918, according to this play, there was just a single survivor. It’s an interesting framework for drama.
Hughes presents a cheeky-chappy, very smiley personality who speaks in rich Irish brogue. There’s a funny account of being in digs with two other Bantams one of whom becomes the target of the randy landlady who is 5 foot 8 inches and 16 stone. In much more serious mood, the story of their trench raid is arresting. They are required by their commanding officer to creep across the 200 yards of neutral territory, dive into an enemy trench and attack. What ensues is pretty terrifying. He mentions the 1916 Easter Rising back in Dublin too. At one point Patrick is injured and there’s a bit of flirtation with a hospital nurse. Inevitably, it’s the usual mixture of horror leavened by the must-laugh-to-stay-sane mentality.
Hughes sustains this story competently enough although his accent work (British officers, French locals, German soldiers) is weak. Perhaps that’s deliberate. An Irish teacher is not necessarily a good mimic but in context it feels clumsy.
World War One history is very familiar to me for various reasons – family, reading, art and more – but may not be to younger people. If this decent but unremarkable play helps to take the facts to them then that can only be a good thing.
Instagram https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/pub-theatre-news
