THE LAST BANTAM
Etcetera Theatre
★★★½
“Hughes’ performance is energetic, generous, and delivered with clear affection for the subject matter”
The Last Bantam, written, performed and directed by Michael Hughes, invites us into a stripped-back world shaped by the remnants of the First World War. Against a simple set, we meet Patrick Michael Wolfe, dressed in his military uniform – the last surviving member of a 30,000-strong Bantam regiment, men initially rejected for their height but full of heart. Wolfe, the final Bantam left, now faces a room of unseen reporters, ready to recount what truly happened.
The show begins with the history of the Bantams: spirited men eager to fight for their country, yet repeatedly turned away because they fell below the army’s height requirement. Hughes vividly brings to life this lesser-known chapter of WW1, introducing us to Wolfe, an Irish recruit who joined after Belfast newspapers announced in 1915 that men between 5ft and 5ft 3in could enlist in Britain. His humour, particularly around the absurdity of recruitment slogans urging Bantams to “unleash the giant within,” offers welcome levity amid the darkness.
Hughes’ performance is energetic, generous, and delivered with clear affection for the subject matter. He balances comedy with the harsh realities of war, even weaving in a song that briefly lifts the weight of the narrative. As the story deepens, the tone shifts: the terrible casualties suffered by the Bantam battalions are conveyed in unflinching detail. Pride gives way to disillusionment, and Hughes asks pressing questions about duty, faith, and survival. What remains when everyone else is gone? How does one keep believing in anything at all?
Some of the storytelling is particularly beautiful – Hughes’ moments of stillness, enhanced with considered lighting, draw focus to the emotional gravity of events and allow the quiet to speak as loudly as the action. His portrayal is powerful, though at times the performance remains locked in a single tonal mode. A greater variation in vulnerability, reflection and portrayal of anger, beyond the soldier’s hardened exterior, could further enrich the emotional landscape of the piece.
Similarly, while the early humour builds warmth and highlights the stigma these men faced despite their willingness to fight, the repeated height-focused jokes at times overshadow the deeper spirit and resilience of the Bantams. The play shines brightest when it honours the bravery, camaraderie and sacrifice of these men – not just their physical stature.
The Last Bantam is a heartfelt tribute to those who served and suffered, and an engaging exploration of an often overlooked corner of military history. Hughes’ writing offers much to reflect on, giving us a rounded insight into Wolfe’s life and inner thoughts. His performance delivers the story with sincerity and conviction, providing both historical understanding and a resonant sense of humanity amid unimaginable horror. It is a story that may be hard to hear, but one worth keeping alive – and worth bringing to many more audiences.
THE LAST BANTAM
Etcetera Theatre
Reviewed on 8th December 2025
by Nasia Ntalla
Photography by Michael Gill
Previously reviewed at this venue:
KILL YOUR FATHER | ★★★ | November 2025
PUBLIC SHARING: DICK FIDDLER IS DEAD | ★★½ | November 2025
CHECKMATE | ★★★ | September 2025
HOSTAGE | ★★★★ | March 2024
