Private Peaceful Scamp Theatre and Greenwich Theatre
Review by Laura Woodland
Michael Morpurgo’s inspiration for Private Peaceful came from the shock he felt when visiting Ypres on the discovery of how many young soldiers were court-martialled for cowardice in the First World War.
The play balances the joy of childhood with the darker moments of Peaceful’s life. We come to love the character and the end is even more powerful for it. Through him, we see youthful ignorance and understand the tragedy of these boys who went off to war, as well as seeing the harsh reality of what it would be like under the pressures of society and the duty to be men.
The staging was simple – a bed, a coat, and some boots. This allowed its young solo actor Mark Quartley to stand out, he was brilliantly dynamic, and his use of storytelling to evoke the other characters was exceptional. The passage of time using the watch was clever, and enabled smooth transition from his past to the countdown of his final night.
This play, while billed for a recommended younger audience, is suitable for secondary school ages right up to GCSE and would be a wonderful way to inspire students studying this period of history.
The tour continues nation-wide until May 21