were played with real intensity by James Higginson, Kevin Thiele, Santino Felotto-Duter, Yusef Einahas, Ollie Jones, Thimeth Wijesinghe, Christian Higgins and Oli Aikawa. Rather than try to replicate the uniforms of the period, the cast were clad in “suggestions of costumes”; there was no doubt who they were. The roles of Tommo’s female friends and family were played by the boys “just as in Shakespeare’s day,” says Chris. “Our production of Private Peaceful took place almost 100 years to the day from the end of WW1. “It’s a serious and powerful play but, having said that, the first half does have plenty of humour. However, by the time it ends with the execution, the playing of the ‘Last Post’ and the names of our own Old Boys lost in that war scrolling down the screen, the audience may be in tears. “We knew this play had something serious to say, and would spark conversations about war and leadership, family life and love, justice and injustice. We hoped our audiences would go away moved by what they had experienced, and thoughtful about the story.”
“We knew this play had something serious to say, andwould spark conversations about war and leadership, family life and love, justice and injustice.” Chris Cheesman
In World War 1, between 1914 and 1918, over 290 soldiers of the British and Commonwealth armies were executed by firing squad, some for desertion some for cowardice, two for simply sleeping at their posts. Many of these men were traumatised by shell shock. Courts martial were brief, the accused often unrepresented.
College Issue 35 2018
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