INTO BATTLE

A world premiere by Hugh Salmon

The true story of a bitter feud at Oxford University.

 

A true story that has been buried for over 100 years: revealing how the political and social divisions tearing Britain apart in the lead up to WWI were reflected in a ‘bitter feud’ at Balliol College, Oxford.

Watch the trailer now.

Get an overview of the extraordinary story following the lives of Billy Grenfell and Keith Rae.

Into Battle: a poem.

Listen to a reading of the 1915 war poem by Julian Grenfell. Read by Nikolas Salmon.

In 1906, of the fifty-three freshers who went up to Balliol, eighteen had been to Eton. By 1910 they had formed an exclusive group, including the future war poets Hon. Julian Grenfell and Patrick Shaw Stewart. Standing up to the behaviour of the Etonians were the socially aware Keith Rae and England rugby international Ronald Poulton, who were dedicated to improving the lives of the poor and hungry in the back streets of Oxford.

By 1912, the feud has polarised to Keith Rae and Hon. Billy Grenfell on an individual level. After an incident between them, Billy is sent down for a year, disgracing his aristocratic mother Lady Ettie Desborough. Finally, Into Battle reveals that the differences between Keith and Billy, and their destinies, are resolved in the face of a far greater adversity.

What People Are Saying

“An extraordinary story that needs to be told.”

— Sir Tim Rice

“Impossible to ignore modern parallels.”

— The Stage

Behind the scenes.

Get to know the cast and see all the behind the scenes action.

Audience reactions.

Watch how the audience responded to Into Battle.

“★★★★ ‘A joy to watch.”

— The Review Hub

“★★★★ Impeccably researched and absorbing new play.”

— Sardines Magazine

What compelled me to write ‘Into Battle’ was the human journey these remarkable people take from one point in their lives to another. And that the issues that divided them were not only reflected at a national level, against the background of one of the most divisive general elections in history in 1910, but that these issues still resonate over 100 years later: specifically, the inequality and unfairness that is still prevalent in today’s society and the divide this creates in communities large and small. How much has changed? 

The more I researched the Balliol Feud, and the people involved, the more I realised that I was uncovering and piecing together a story that has been buried in history but that I could bring back to life for today’s audiences. These individual real life characters are so wildly full, interesting and engaging I wanted to share their journeys and let their voices be heard by a new generation. Whatever our differences, we can come together’. 

Hugh Salmon