Commissioned by BBC and directed by Pedr James. OUR DAY OUT was broadcast in December 1976, then again six weeks later by popular demand as part BBC's PLAY FOR TODAY in 1977.
Re-broadcast in 1979.
Willy says: 'I still watch it today. The performances are exquisite. Shot on 16mm in just three weeks by a first time director working with a largely untrained cast it just seemed to be one of those charmed ventures in which everything just fell into place. A great bonus, for me, is the understated but stunning Nic Jones version of Teddy Bears Picnic over the final credits.'
When Mrs Kay's 'Progress Class' are unleashed for a day's coach trip to Conway Castle in Wales, it is an exuberant celebration of the joys and agonies of growing up and being footloose, fourteen and free from school. But this is more than a romp - it points up the depressing present and empty future for these comphrehensive no-hopers from the backstreets of Liverpool, for whom a day out is as much as they can expect.
Written in long hand in only four or five days, Willy found this reality based drama easy to write. He had taught at Dingle Vale school, one of the locations used in the film and had experienced similar school trips both as a child and a teacher.
The video of the BBC film Our Day Out is not currently available, which is odd, because the film is shown and the play performed in almost every school in the country.
"I can’t tell you how tiresome and frustrating a process it has been to try to get this title (Our Day Out) released. We are still working on it, although I understand that’s probably very little comfort to those people who write to the guestbook complaining about the unavailability of these titles."But now...
EXCLUSIVE View the tv film of
OUR DAY OUT
here on
Willy Russell.com...
This scene (above) shows Carol defusing Mr. Briggs' anger and bringing out his caring side after she has gone missing from the rest of the school party.
The television play produced some excellent acting from Alun Armstrong and the young JulieJones, and the rest of the cast which included Jean Haywood and Elizabeth Estenson... plus the 'Kids'.
