The Drummer Boy of Waterloo (2015)

Synopsis: 

This is the story of Edward Drew, a boy who was apprenticed to a textile mill from the Poor House to earn his keep. By extraordinary circumstances, he ended up on the field of battle as a drummer boy mascot for the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo on Sunday 18 June, 1815.  

Edward had never known his father, but his mother told him that he was a fine man, a soldier who had gone off to fight for his country, and that Edward should always be proud of him. But with no money coming into the house and an absent father, mother and son soon became victims of the Poor House regime. Then, at only seven years old, Edward was orphaned and sent off to work at the mill.  

Life was not easy. The children had to work more than ten hours a day. At first Edward was very frightened by the loud machines he had to crawl through to clean, but after a time he settled down and made friends with the other children who became his new family.  

There was music in him, and the machines had a rhythm of their own; inside his head the rhythm didn’t stop even when the machines did. Table tops, crates, barrels: everything became a drum when Edward was nearby, and the other children were happy to join in the music. Edward often spoke of his Father and how he would be a soldier, just like him, one day.  

The factory owners were keen to impress the Parish council that they were good employers who looked after the children who worked for them, so they encouraged Edward to play the drums as the children marched through the village on a Sunday morning to attend Church.   

One particular Sunday there were two recruiting sergeants in the congregation. They were looking for young men to sign up for the war effort in Europe against Napoleon. Edward caught their eye: he could be useful to them in the field as a messenger. The two sergeants approached the Mill owners and tried to secure Edward’s services, but this was refused.  

Edward was devastated, as this could have been the answer to his dreams. With the help of the other factory children, he dodged the factory owners and enlisted. Soon he was playing the drums in the Duke of Wellington’s army. At the Battle of Waterloo, Edward signaled the charge for the main battle against Napoleon. He fell on the field, but became a symbol of hope not only to the soldiers with whom he served but also the children of the mill where he had once been an apprentice. 

- Megg Nicol & David Stoll

Cast:  

The cast is made up entirely of children, using their own clothes and rags in inventive ways to change character. Their age ranges from about six to about fourteen. Generally male voices are unbroken, though some of the lower pitched parts may be taken by older boys so long as they fit in with the general group of children in the chorus. 

The opera can be played by 16 children but twice that number or even more would be far better. 

Soloists: 

Children (in order of appearance): Ethel, William, Pip, Polly, Beth, Tom, Mary, Sam, Arthur, Jonny, Sarah, Susan, George 
Mr Penny (played by Tom) 
Mary Drew (played by Mary) 
Young Edward (played by Pip) 
Older Edward (played by Jonny) 

Barley 
Mr Lancashire 
Vicar 
Sarge 
Stripe 

Chorus:  
Children, Passers-by, Congregation, Men, Women