Blue Remembered Hills

Childhood games lead to tragedy in Potter’s tale of youthful exuberance, bravado and cruelty.Dennis Potter’s contribution to ‘Play for Today’ is the story of seven children playing, one summers afternoon, in the Forest of Dean during WWII. First aired in 1979, this short piece will give you plenty to think about.The children are playing at being adults and their cruelty and aggressions mirror adult interactions, exacerbated by the times, with tragic consequences. What makes it more interesting is that the children are all played by adults. Willie plays at aeroplanes, bully Peter struts, fair minded John looks after his brother Raymond, dressed as a cowboy and attempting headstands. Angela plays at being mother whilst the cruel Audrey teases the terrified, lonely, and abused Donald.They fight, argue, run from a POW, stone squirrels out of trees and gang up on Donald, who plays a dangerous game of pyromania.Do they get captured by the POW?Does Raymond manage a headstand?Do the squirrels manage to escape?Can Donald be stopped?