Bolton Little Theatre is adding its own spin to the commemorations of Bolton’s Wembley triumph in the FA cup 100 years ago as it stages Les Smith’s and Martin Thomasson’s And Did Those Feet.

The play, originally commissioned by The Octagon, will be a joint production between BLT and Phoenix Theatre Company.

The brainchild behind the project was Phoenix’s Connor O’Beirne who takes up the director’s reins.

“I’d been in a production a few years ago with The Marco Players so I knew what a great story it was,” he said, “and when I realised the 100th anniversary of the match was coming up it was too much of an opportunity to miss.”

The story follows two typical Bolton families in 1923, Wanderers fans all, as the Whites are gradually winning their way to the FA cup final: a middle-aged couple, Alf and Hilda who’ve had their share of sorrow, and a young couple Ted and Martha, who are just starting their life together.

Peter Haslam who plays Alf said: “It really is a brilliantly conceived play - a must not just for Wanderers fans but for all fans of good drama”.

Julie Hall as Hilda agrees adding: “I’ve been in quite a few plays over the years – but nothing has jumped of the page as pure Bolton as much as this one.”

Newcomer Alex Farrar plays their son, Billy, who had been a promising footballer himself before tragedy stuck in the Great War – a fact that Alf can’t forget.

“I’ve been a Wanderers fan for years,” says Alex, “and it’s been brilliant finding out about the team of 1923 doing this play.”

But the story doesn’t just revolve around the 11 men in a football match 100 years ago.

Local writers Les Smith and Martin Thomasson have woven in the social upheaval of the times into the narrative as Ted and Martha, played by Kyle Cambray and Louise Ward, try to save up for their married life together amid redundancies and short hours at the mill.

Things are not helped by Ted’s brother Jim, played by Joe Cunliffe, who has taken up the torch of revolutionary socialism, so prevalent in young idealists of the time.

Jim’s fervour doesn’t make things any easier for Martha and Ted, but worse is to come: the date of the Wembley final is looming – and it’s the same day as their wedding! Who could choose…?

The cast are pretty much all Wanderers fans themselves – in fact some rehearsals had to be cancelled when they clashed with important fixtures such as Bolton’s win in the Pappa John Trophy recently. “I think perhaps it’s been this shared enthusiasm that has helped to bring this brilliant story to life” observes Connor.

Completing the cast is Derek Darlington as Bob Stott, a local newsagent and avid fan who has promised to walk the 212 miles to Wembley if his heroes qualify. And of course qualify they do – but what will he find when he gets there…?

‘And Did Those Feet’ runs from Saturday 22nd to Saturday 29th April 2023 at 7.30 pm (and including a matinee on Sunday 23rd at 2.00 pm at Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, Bolton BL1 4TG. For tickets visit www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk or ring 01204 524469.