A Matter of Conscience

available for production

First World War recruitment poster

(image: Imperial War Museum)

image: armisticenow.net

“Is there another woman? Is that why you asked me? To get away from her?”
“There never has been another woman, I swear. There never will be. We must go on together – or apart.”
“Not apart. It would leave such a big hole in my world if you weren’t there.”
“You see! We’re meant for each other. Oh, my darling!”

A Matter of Conscience is a two-act play based on the 1918 banned novel Despised and Rejected by “A T Fitzroy” (Rose Allatini).

Dennis Blackwood and Antoinette de Courcy are in love – but Dennis cannot forget the man he met in the West Country and Antoinette is besotted by a mysterious woman she meets on holiday.

When World War One erupts Dennis defies his family to become a conscientious objector while Antoinette supports him and every man who refuses to fight.

When Dennis meets again the man he has tried to forget, he has to face both his innermost desire and the fury of the British state while Antoinette must come to terms with her longing for her own sex.

Because of its sympathetic portrayal of pacifism and same-sex desire Allatini’s novel was banned shortly after it appeared in 1918 and was not published until 1989.

At a time when war looms on the horizon and queer rights are under attack in many countries, A Matter of Conscience remains highly relevant today. The stage adaptation is faithful to the original story with a minor plot change that gives equal weight to Antoinette’s and Dennis’s desires.

CAST

Dennis Blackwood: M, early 20s

Antoinette de Courcy: F, early 20s

Alan Rutherford: M, mid 20s (also plays Crispin in one scene)

The following parts can be doubled or separated:

M, 30- 50

Blacksmith / Conn / Man / Conscription Board Chairman

F, 40+

Mrs Blackwood / Mme de Courcy

F, under 40

Hester Cawthorn / Mrs Ryan / Pegeen

SET

Since the setting changes over the twenty-one scenes, it is recommended that the set remains neutral with the setting created / implied by background sound (suggested in the script) and alluded to in the script.

SCRIPT