2 February 2017

As HTBS reported on 16 January, Ed Waugh’s play Hadaway Harry about the professional oarsman and boat builder Harry Clasper is coming to London Rowing Club in Putney on 17 and 18 February. Hurry up to get your tickets!

London Rowing Club is set to welcome sell-out crowds for a play about the great Victorian oarsman Harry Clasper. With more than half of the 240 ticket allocation already sold, Hadaway Harry is a homage to the man who not only led teams to win eight Championship of the World titles on the Thames, starting at Putney, but also coached champions, refereed top matches and designed the racing boats used by rowers today.

Ed Waugh, who wrote the play that is doing an out-of-town run in Putney before transferring to Newcastle’s 1,200-seat Theatre Royal, said: ‘Harry “Hadaway” Clasper was from Tyneside and the Sir Steve Redgrave of his day.

‘The play itself focuses on the very first time the Geordie oarsmen – led by Clasper and comprising his brothers – defeated the “unbeatable” Thamesmen at Putney in 1845.’

He continued: ‘The support we have had from the people of Putney and Fulham has been fantastic, from shopkeepers and community groups putting up our posters and distributing our leaflets to All Saints Church on Fulham Palace Road and London Rowing Club putting up our banners.’

An added bonus for Waugh was a picture in London Rowing Club.

He explained: ‘We have made appeals nationally for memorabilia of Harry Clasper and we couldn’t believe it when we looked at the images above where we are creating a stage. There, on the wall, is a picture dated from 1848 of Harry leading his team to win the qualifying heats for the World Championship.

‘It’s an incredible coincidence to think the play will be re-tying the knot of history in Putney and that we’ll be performing the show under a historical picture of Harry and his team.’

Hadaway Harry will be performed at London Rowing Club, Putney (SW15 1LB) on Friday 17 February and Saturday 18 February The show starts at 7.30 p.m. on both evenings with a matinee at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets, limited to 80 per show, cost only £16 from (0191) 424 7788.

For further details visit: www.hadawayharry.co.uk