Wounded Armed Forces to takeover West End stage
22 November 2011
One of the biggest names in the West End
is joining forces with the nation's leading Armed Forces charity to
offer a group of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel a once
in a lifetime opportunity. The Theatre Royal Haymarket
Masterclass Trust and The Royal British
Legion, working in partnership with the Ministry
of Defence, have brought together 30 wounded, injured and
sick Service personnel from across Britain to write, produce and
perform their own play on the West End stage.
The Bravo 22 Company will
present two performances only of a new play based on their
experiences in conflict and in recovery,
entitled"The Two Worlds of Charlie F",
under the artistic auspices of Trevor Nunn
CBE and with the support of Ray Winstone
as the company's ambassador.
The aim of the project is to use a learning environment to aid the recovery of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel. The project will introduce the Service personnel involved to leading theatrical professionals and will give early Service leaders career opportunities in the theatrical industry.
Commenting on the project Ray Winstone said: "Amazing, stunning, a got to do idea!" (Click here to view the video of Ray persuading friends and colleagues to particpate in the project.)
The Legion's National President, Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB MC, commented: "The Bravo 22 Company is an extraordinary project bringing together an exceptional group of individuals, whom I have no doubt will reap great benefits from this opportunity as facilitated by The Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust.
"The project is an exciting addition to the Legion's support for the recovery of injured Armed Forces personnel, and our care for their families."
Arnold M Crook, Trustee of Masterclass and Chairman of the Theatre Royal Haymarket said: "Masterclass is delighted to be partnering The Royal British Legion and the MoD in our biggest project to date. The two performances of The Bravo 22 Company Project, hosted by the Theatre Royal Haymarket in January next year, promise to be thoroughly rewarding for all concerned."
The performances will take place at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Sunday 22 January 2012. Members of the company will participate directly in the creation, production and performance of the piece giving them direct insight into the theatrical industry and helping to improve self-awareness, confidence, and motivation to support their individual recovery, and in particular help those who are transitioning into civilian life.
The play will be directed by Stephen Rayne, written by Owen Sheers and is produced for Masterclass by Alice Driver. The wounded, injured and sick military service personnel, whose ages range between 20 and 52 years, are currently on recovery programmes throughout Britain. The company members have charted their stories and experiences to Owen Sheers who comprises the play based on this material.
Notes to Editors:
The Bravo 22 Company opens for two shows on 22 January
2012 at The Theatre Royal Haymarket, SW1Y 4HT. Tickets will be
available in advance from The Bravo 22 Company website: www.bravo22company.com.
Masterclass and The Royal British Legion will host a Gala Performance of "The Two Worlds of Charlie F" on 22 January 2011 at 6.30pm to support The Bravo 22 Company, Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust and The Royal British Legion enabling them to continue an on-going programme with wounded, injured and sick Service personnel. A limited number of tickets for the gala evening including post-performance reception are available priced at £150. For more information or to book tickets contact Blayne George, 0207389 9660 or events@masterclass.org.uk
The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion stands shoulder to shoulder with
all who serve. It is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity
providing care and support to all members of the British Armed
Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national
Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant
between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the
annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk
The Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust
Masterclass is a small charity based at the beautiful
Theatre Royal Haymarket, the last independent, family run theatre
in the West End. Giving access to the historic building and
using theatre as a vehicle for development are two aspirations at
the very core of the charity.
Masterclass runs a year round programme of free talks, workshops, special projects, career advice sessions, showcases and performance opportunities for 17 - 30 year olds. This hugely successful programme has supported over 60,000 young people. www.masterclass.org.uk
Stephen Rayne began his career as an actor before becoming a theatre director. As a director he started at York Theatre Royal and the Cambridge Theatre Company before working in the West End. For the Royal Shakespeare Company his credits include The Plantagenets, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Hero and Leander and All God's Chillun Got Wings. For the National Theatre, as Associate to Trevor Nunn and co director, his credits include Not About Nightingales, The Cherry Orchard, Mutabilitie, The Relapse, An Enemy of the People and The Coast of Utopia.
Owen Sheers wrote the script for The Passion, a seventy two hour site specific production in Port Talbot starring and co-directed by Michael Sheen, as well as the novella based on the play, entitled The Gospel of Us. His first novel Resistance is being adapted into a film due for release on 28 November 2011, for which he has co-written the screenplay. Sheers' other writing credits include the novella White Ravens, the award-winning novel The Dust Diaries, the radio play If I Should Go Away and the play Unicorns, almost - developed by the Old Vic New Voices project. He has also written two poetry collections as well as written and presented the BBC4 TV series A Poet's Guide to Britain and Battlefield Poet: Keith Douglas.
Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust and The Royal British Legion are grateful to the Youth Hostel Association, which has generously discounted the cost of accommodation for the wounded, injured and sick service personnel for the duration of their stay.
LISTINGS INFORMATION - The Bravo 22
Company
Date: 22 January 2012
Address: Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket,
London SW1Y 4HT
Performances: Sunday at 2.30pm and
6.30pm
Tickets: Matinee performance: £10-£35; Evening
performance: £10-£55; Gala evening: £150
Box Office: 0845 481 1870
Book on Line: www.trh.co.uk or www.bravo22company.com
Access: Please call the box office on 020 7930
8800 for more details
For further media information please contact:
Rebecca Warren, PR Officer, The Royal British Legion
E: rwarren@britishlegion.org.uk T:
020 3207 2239
The Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust - Anoushka Warden, Anoushka@masterclass.org.uk or Melissa Knatchbull, Melissa@masterclass.org.uk, 020 7389 9662
