one4review | On 12, Aug 2026

History tends to remember the great battles and military leaders, but The Last Bantam shines a light on the thousands of ordinary men whose stories have largely disappeared. In the tiny, appropriately named Snug at Paradise in Augustines, a packed audience is transported to the First World War through Michael Hughes’s compelling one-man performance.

Hughes appears in the uniform of a First World War corporal and addresses us as reporters who have come to the front line to experience the conflict for ourselves. He takes on the role of Patrick Michael Wolfe, a science teacher from Dublin, who enlists in the hope that his service will help secure Home Rule for Ireland after the war.

Wolfe joins the 15th Bantam Battalion, made up of men between five feet and five feet three inches tall. Hughes recounts his attempts to enlist and subsequent training, where the Bantam’s diminutive stature is a constant source of amusement and ridicule. There is plenty of humour in these early scenes, as the men seem to relish their new adventure.

But the mood changes dramatically when they reach the front line. The six-foot high trenches and the ever-present sound of artillery provide a stark reminder that this is no longer training. The realities of war begin to overwhelm the camaraderie and youthful enthusiasm.

Hughes holds the audience’s attention with consummate ease, moving effortlessly between humour, horror and moments of genuine poignancy. His storytelling is vivid without becoming theatrical for its own sake, allowing the remarkable story to do much of the work.

The Last Bantam is a fascinating piece of historical storytelling, bringing an overlooked group of soldiers vividly back to life. A compelling performance and a great story, very well told.

4 stars ****
Reviewed by Howard
Snug at Paradise in Augustines
Until 15th August
12.50 – 13.50