Ronnie Winslow
The “Winslow Boy” of the play’s title, fourteen-year-old Ronnie is the first character on stage, visibly frightened of the repercussions of being expelled from Osborne Naval College. He is alleged to have stolen a postal…
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Arthur Winslow
Arthur is the intimidating patriarch of the Winslow family. He is the main driver behind the long and arduous legal process to get Ronnie justice and a fair trial. Though the family is clearly intimidated…
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Grace Winslow
Grace is the flighty mother of the Winslow family who simply wants a nice life. She doesn’t understand why Arthur is willing to sacrifice their living standards just to win a case that, after all…
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Catherine Winslow
Catherine is Arthur and Grace’s daughter and Ronnie’s sister. Along with Arthur, she is the character most committed to Ronnie’s defense, and Arthur considers her his “closest ally.” In fact, she readily gives…
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Dickie Winslow
Dickie is Ronnie’s older brother who at the play’s beginning is an undergraduate at Oxford. His father, Arthur, suspects him of shirking his studies and being distracted by his gramophone. He’s the…
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Sir Robert Morton
Sir Robert is a notorious barrister hired by Arthur to fight the Winslow case, and is widely held to be the best in the business. He comes across as rude, impersonal, and a little intimidating…
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Violet
Violet is the Winslows’ housemaid. She is a loyal servant to the family and is the first character that Ronnie reveals himself to in Act 1. Evidently, she has never been given proper training and…
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Desmond Curry
Desmond is the Winslow family’s hapless solicitor who is hopelessly in love with Catherine. Now forty-five, he used to be a successful cricket player but his athletic glory has long since faded. When Desmond…
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John Watherstone
John Watherstone is a man of about thirty years who gets engaged to Catherine. In Act 1, he comes to the Winslow house to discuss Arthur’s dowry for John and Catherine’s marriage. But…
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John’s Father/Colonel Watherstone
John’s father is a colonel in the army. John is dependent on his father for financial security and is evidently quite afraid of him. As a member of the military establishment, John’s father does not…
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Minor Characters
Miss Barnes
Miss Barnes is a journalist from The Daily News. She appears in Act 2 as the media attention in the Winslow case grows. She annoys Arthur because she seems more interested in their curtains than in the political significance of Ronnie’s legal battle.
