{"id":682,"date":"2018-10-16T17:39:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T16:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=682"},"modified":"2018-10-16T22:16:19","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T21:16:19","slug":"play-by-wounded-injured-and-sick-veterans-heads-to-commons-and-sadlers-wells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=682","title":{"rendered":"Play by Wounded, Injured and Sick Veterans at Commons and Sadler\u2019s Wells"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifteen wounded, injured and sick veterans today performed scenes from Unspoken<\/em>, a play about the challenges faced by ex-service personnel like themselves, at the Palace of Westminster.<\/p>\n

Their appearance comes ahead of a full performance at Sadler\u2019s Wells on 28 October, which will be the final stop on a hugely successful tour that began at the Edinburgh Festival in August where it earned \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 and \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 reviews.<\/p>\n

The presentation was at theSpeaker\u2019s House, in front of MPs and specially invited guests, took place by kind permission of The Speaker, John Bercow MP.<\/p>\n

Unspoken<\/em>was created using the real-life stories of 100 modern day veterans \u2013 a number chosen to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.<\/p>\n

The cast, from across the UK, are all members of the Bravo 22 Company, a recovery through the arts programme made possible by The Royal British Legion and The Drive Project.<\/p>\n

The project is supported by Ray Winstone, The Drive Project and Bravo 22 Company\u2019s ambassador.<\/p>\n

Winstone said:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThis is a play, and a cast, with something important to say. It\u2019s not sentimental, it\u2019s not sugar coated, and it\u2019s very real.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a superb piece of drama that anyone can appreciate as it\u2019s more generally about life\u2019s struggles and is full of humour and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The play is set in a modern day club where a disparate regiment of soldiers, sailors and airmen have gathered to chat, drink and watch live entertainment.<\/p>\n

Moving and often funny,Unspoken <\/em>explores the aftermath of trauma and injury, and is dedicated to The Royal British Legion\u2019s \u201cThank You\u201d movement.<\/p>\n

In the centenary year of the end of the First World War, this movement is about thanking the generation who lived through the conflict. This includes the countless men, women and children who played their part on the home front. Its themes are reflected in Unspoken<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The cast of Unspoken<\/em>have all faced tough realities.<\/p>\n

Wheelchair user Ken Bellringer\u00a0<\/strong>plays a \u201csit-down stand-up comedian\u201d. Ken was given only the slimmest chances of survival after his attempt to save a comrade from a Taliban bomb resulted in catastrophic injuries including the loss of both legs and his genitals.<\/p>\n

Alongside him on stage are the likes of Debbie Evans\u00a0<\/strong>who developed PTSD after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Steve Shaw\u00a0<\/strong>who was badly injured in Afghanistan, ex Royal Marine Tip Cullen who has moved into acting \u2013 and has appeared in Kingsman 2<\/em>and Ready Player One<\/em>. There is also former RAF man Luke Delahunty\u00a0<\/strong>who is paralysed from the chest down \u2013 but has proved unstoppable, twice competing in the Invictus Games.<\/p>\n

After Edinburgh, the show performed to sell-out audiences in Liverpool and Birmingham. Ed Fringe Review described Unspoken<\/em>as \u201ca stunning piece of theatre based on the real experiences of the cast\u201d while the Express and Star said: \u201cwe really are in the presence of heroes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Delahunty said:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe have been overwhelmed by the way that the play has caught people\u2019s imaginations wherever we have been. And to end the tour at Westminster and Sadler\u2019s Wells is a tremendous honour.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that Unspoken <\/em>will help create understanding of the challenges faced by wounded, injured and sick veterans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also hope it will encourage people to think and talk about the experiences of those who went through World War I and the many conflicts that have taken place since then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unspoken<\/em>was written by Gary Kitching, directed by Phil Hoffmann and is presented with the support of Newcastle Theatre Royal.<\/p>\n

It has been championed by Chi Onwurah<\/strong>, MP for Newcastle on Tyne Central, who said the play is: \u201cdeeply moving and an important vehicle to provide empathy and understanding among society.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as presenting excerpts from the play, the cast will talk about their lives and about Bravo 22 Company. Information will also be shared about the Thank You campaign.<\/p>\n

Bravo 22 Company\u2019s first production The Two Worlds of Charlie F<\/em>, performed to sell out audiences at the Fringe in 2012, touring Canada and the UK and winning an\u00a0Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award. Unspoken<\/em>aims to build on this success.<\/p>\n