11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
ANDREW CAMERON
EMMA KING-FARLOW
Armistice Day is an appropriate time to reflect on the significant progress that has been made in treating the mental health needs of our Veterans. During the First World War there was little understanding or sympathy for those suffering from mental trauma, either within the military or the health establishment.
I have made for you a song, And it may be right or wrong, But only you can tell me if it’s true. I have tried for to explain Both your pleasure and your pain, And, Thomas, here’s my best respects to you!
Chief Executive Combat Stress
In 1919 our organisation was conceived by a group of forward-thinking women who believed psychiatric casualties were being poorly treated and were determined to see the state change its approach. They believed that those suffering from ‘shell shock’ had the right to proper therapy, employment and pensions to help them rehabilitate. Since then, Combat Stress and NHS services have expanded to serve thousands of men and women each year, but since deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq demand for specialist care for Veterans is rising again. While the majority of Armed Forces personnel escape these psychological injuries, I hope that Dreams from the Pit will help Veterans, the military community, and society as a whole, to better recognise these life-changing mental health issues.
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Writer and Director Dreams From The Pit
RUDYARD KIPLING To Thomas Atkins, Barrack Room Ballads Dreams From The Pit is based on many hours of interviews with Veterans, family members, serving military personnel and Combat Stress staff. I have endeavoured to tell a story that is representative of the many anecdotes that have been so generously shared with me and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone – both soldier and civilian – whose help has made this production possible. I dearly hope that the play will both entertain and inform and I would, ideally, like to see it live on beyond this first performance, finding other audiences, sparking debate and inspiring a better understanding of the often unrecognised, unseen, mental wounds of war.
11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
“WITH THE HELP OF COMBAT STRESS, I UNDERSTOOD THINGS ABOUT MY FATHER THAT I DIDN’T KNOW BEFORE” SIR PATRICK STEWART
WHAT IS PTSD?
SIR PATRICK STEWART
What is P.T.S.D.? It is the night. It is forever dark. You feel the pain. You are the guilt. You weep, you scream. It all comes back. You hide, you cower. You cover your eyes Wherever you see the fright. You’re scared to sleep. You’re scared to wake. You wake, you scream. You sleep, you weep.
Sir Patrick Stewart has kindly recorded Veteran Peter Dobson’s poem, What is P.T.S.D? for this performance.
By Peter Dobson Veteran
Actor and Supporter of Combat Stress
For many years I have supported the charity Refuge, as my mother was subjected to domestic violence by my father. But in 2012, with the help of Combat Stress, I understood things about my father that I didn’t know before: that due to his experiences in France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940, he was suffering from what was then called severe shell shock. Today shell shock is known as PTSD, and we know what it is and how to deal with it. In 1940 soldiers were told just ‘pull yourself together’. Today there are still soldiers who are returning from combat zones with PTSD. So now I work for Refuge for my mother, and Combat Stress for my father, in equal measure.
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DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
ACT 1
ACT II
Drinks with the Boys Table For Two RSOI Stagging On Butlins’ On the Home Front Missing You Mail Call Happy Holidays An Afghan Christmas
Dreams From the Pit Collision Course Occupational Therapy Catching Up Separation Counselling 1 RIP Counselling 2 Razor’s Edge Counselling 3 Looking Forward
INTERVAL - 15 MINUTES
PANEL DISCUSSION FOLLOWS
POEMS Tommy – Rudyard Kipling The Company of Lovers – Judith Wright, from A Human Pattern: Selected Poems (courtesy of ETT Imprint, Sydney) Only A Private – Margaret Junkin Preston Give Me Faith – Ian E. Kaye Vitai Lampada – Sir Henry Newbolt Until We Meet Again – 1940’s, Author Unknown Mail Call – Randall Jarrell
Does It Matter? - Siegfried Sassoon, © Copyright Siegfried Sassoon by kind permission of the Estate of George Sassoon The Next War – Wilfred Owen What is PTSD? – Peter Dobson (with the voice of Sir Patrick Stewart) Come Judgement Day – Alan Bell Betrayal – Edward (Ted) Ogle The Two Sides of War – Henry Grantland Rice Matey – Patrick Macgill
SHADOW ROAD PRODUCTIONS Based in south west London, Shadow Road was founded by Emma KingFarlow who has created and directed three previous Remembrance productions in aid of Combat Stress: The Road to Remembrance (2009), Warriors: Remembering the Brave (2011) and The Poetry and the Pity (2012). All three productions drew deeply on Britain’s tradition of war poetry and music and Dreams From The Pit, Emma’s first full-length play, does so as well. Shadow Road’s output includes a range of entertainment from new comedies to classic chillers, murder mystery
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dinners and further original productions Diamond Days: A Victorian Jubilee Celebration (commissioned by the Barnes Literary Society) and A Countdown to Christmas. It is a small company with limited resources and, as always, relies on the generous support of many friends, to whom the company extends their warmest thanks. If you would like to become a friend of Shadow Road or get involved in one of their future productions in some way, contact details and more information are available at: www.shadowroad.com.
11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
CAST - in speaking order Ethan Chapples Edward Toll David Holme Lewis Davidson Susan Moisan Stuart Brannan Max Attard Dan Van Garrett Naima Stevenson Ann Acott Robin Holden Dan Styles Dominic Attenborough Alex Corbet Burcher Michael Swatton Charlie Dupre Julia Taylor Sally Knyvette Helen Meadmore
Tom ‘Jacko’ Jackson Lee ‘Razor’ Sharpe Matt ‘Sully’ Sullivan Ross ‘Mac’ McDonald Catherine ‘Cat’ Granger / Understudy Lisa Jackson Labour Politician / Rob Cassell Daniel ‘Frosty’ Frostman Barry ‘Baz’ Martin / Understudy Tom ‘Jacko’ Jackson Lisa Jackson Tracey Brewer / Jen / Understudy Cat Granger Padre Andrew Cable / Ensemble Officer / George / Conservative Politician Sam ‘Griff’ Griffin / Understudy Daniel Frostman Lt Alex Linden / Occupational Therapist / Ensemble Sgt Mark ‘Woody’ Woodforde / Ensemble Nick Winter / Ensemble / Understudy Lee ‘Razor’ Sharpe Bex Pitney Mrs Martin / Interviewer Counsellor / Ensemble / Understudy Bex Pitney
PANEL DISCUSSION Andrew Cameron Jake Wood Deirdre Mc Manus Moderator: Mike Williams
Chief Executive, Combat Stress Veteran and author of Among You: The Extraordinary True Story of a Soldier Broken by War Consultant and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Forensic Psychiatry, King’s College London Broadcaster and presenter of “The Why Factor”, BBC World Service.
CHOIR
VOX POPS
Lucy Johnstone Sophie Gove Julia Kingsbury Mike Attwood Chris Burr Adam Morris Andy Martin Peter Mitchell Fergus O’Kelly (Abide With Me solo)
Annie Collenette Dominic Attenborough Susan Moisan Fergus O’Kelly
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DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
The cast and creative team have all donated their time and skills to this production on a voluntary basis. Many have personal or professional connections to the Armed Forces and are honoured to support the work of Combat Stress. ETHAN CHAPPLES Tom ‘Jacko’ Jackson Ethan trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Theatre credits include Blood Wedding, Drift: Photo51 (Curious Directive), Aladdin (Ambassadors Theatre Group), Hymns, Wounds To The Face, The Philosophical Lieutenant, One Night in Paris, Taming of the Shrew, 4.48 Psychosis, Dracula. Film includes Call of Duty (Virgin Media, Short), Hotel (Short), Yesterday Boy (Short). EDWARD TOLL Lee ‘Razor’ Sharpe Edward’s parents were circus performers in the former Soviet Union and he spent his formative years with renowned Kazakh touring troupe, Wink Plus Blinky. After some time in Moscow’s theatre scene, he returned to England to train at the Manchester Metropolitan School Of Theatre. Credits include Richard III, The Robbers, Journal of an Urban Robinson Crusoe, and The Comedy of Errors. Film and TV credits include Casualty (BBC), and World War Z (Paramount) DAVID HOLMES Matt ‘Sully’ Sullivan David trained at East 15 Acting School. Credits include The Young Shakespeare Company (Julius Caesar and Macbeth), Twelfth Night with Swivel, and a UK and Europe tour of Much Ado About Nothing with Theatre Set-Up. He is currently developing a play for 2014 entitled A Dying Trade with Rusted Dust Theatre, formed by E15 graduates.
LEWIS DAVIDSON Ross ‘Mac’ McDonald Lewis graduated from Kingston University, specialising in Shakespeare and Physical Theatre. Theatre credits include King Lear (Lazarus Theatre at the Greenwich Theatre), Icarus, A Story of Flight, (Backhand Theatre at Edinburgh C Venues) and Marat/ Sade, (London European Theatre at the Courtyard Theatre). Lewis also trained as a circus and aerial performer, principally as a trapeze artist. He has worked with Shadow Road Productions since 2011.
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11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
SUSAN MOISAN Catherine ‘Cat’ Granger / Understudy Lisa Jackson Susan trained at Drama Studio London and joined Shadow Road Productions in 2010. This is her third Remembrance show for Combat Stress. Other theatre credits include The Devil Is An Ass (White Bear Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Trifle Productions), Zipporah (George Wood Theatre) and Sweeney Todd (Opera di Nepotist). Film: Closing Doors (short) The Factory (short) and Je Suis Daddy (Black Light Productions). Susan also regularly sings jazz and cabaret. STUART BRANNAN Labour Politician / Rob Cassell Since graduating from Drama Studio London in 2010, Stuart has appeared in The Trunk at the Offcut Festival 2010 (Old Red Lion), as Everil in The Devil is an Ass by Ben Jonson (White Bear Theatre), Phillip in The Perfect Party (Wimbledon Studio Theatre) and Hal in Moira Buffini’s Dinner (Riverside Studios).
MAX ATTARD Daniel ‘Frosty’ Frostman Max graduated from Drama Studio London in July 2013. Roles while training include Macbeth in Macbeth, Kit in French Without Tear, Alex in 100 and Ralph in The Accrington Pals . Max was a voluntary Army Cadet for four years, rising to the rank of Junior Under Officer and commanding a Cadet Platoon.
DAN VAN GARRETT Barry ‘Baz’ Martin / Understudy Tom ‘Jacko’ Jackson Dan started as an impressionist before turning to acting. Stage credits include Angelo in Measure For Measure, Curly McClain In Oklahoma, Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace and Marlow in She Stoops To Conquer. His recent performance as a soldier returning from Iraq in the short film Coming Home earned him a Best Actor nomination in the Los Angeles film festival ‘The 168 Project’ in 2012. NAIMA STEVENSON Lisa Jackson Naima trained at The Oxford School of Drama where roles included Phaedra in Phaedra’s Love, Jane Hogarth in The Art of Success and Emily Webb in Our Town. Other credits: Terrorism (Downstairs at The Hampstead Theatre), Winifred in The Witch of Edmonton, Mary Seacole in The Adventures of Mary Seacole. Film credits include The Engagement, Down The Dark Road and Clinic. She has also played and recorded with several bands and worked as a backing singer.
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DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
ANN ACOTT Tracey Brewer / Jen / Understudy Cat Granger Ann has appeared in several Shadow Road productions, including The Road to Remembrance, Oswald’s Return and Diamond Days. Other theatre credits include Sexual Perversity in Chicago, The Cherry Orchard, Night of the Soul, The Rivals and Love’s Labours Lost. She has also taken part in the Bardathon – an outdoor Shakespeare marathon – and Voices for the charity Unifem. Film credits include Good Morning Ground Control and See Me Now. ROBIN HOLDEN Padre Andrew Cable / Ensemble Robin trained at ALRA and is a Shadow Road actor in residence. Theatre credits include Californian Lives (OSO & Kings Head), Lear, Dido Queen of Carthage and The Duchess of Malfi (Greenwich Theatre), Oedipus, The Hatpin, Don Carlos and Macbeth, (Blue Elephant Theatre), Hamlet (Greenwich Playhouse), Judgement at Nuremberg (Tricycle), The Scandalous Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (Union & Tabard Theatres), Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Crime & Punishment (Barons Court). DAN STYLES Officer / George / Conservative Politician Dan has a strong interest in military history. He attended Air Cadets as a teenager and as an actor has played many military roles. Theatre: Macduff in Macbeth, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Oberon in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Rodolfo in A View from the Bridge (tour), Various soldiers in Oh! What a Lovely War! Film: Black Hawk Down (Documentary - National Geographic), Green Street 3, Harrigan, Born of Hope, Blue Peter (BBC) DOMINIC ATTENBOROUGH Sam ‘Griff’ Griffin / Understudy Daniel Frostman Graduating from Royal Holloway University of London in 2012, Dominic’s recent theatre credits include Dido Queen of Carthage and King Lear (Lazarus Theatre at the Greenwich Theatre). He is also due to appear in Hollow Point (Hen and Chicken Theatre) and Silk (BBC) later this year. His father is in the RAF.
ALEX CORBET BURCHER Lt Alex Linden / Occupational Therapist / Ensemble Alex was an Officer in the British Army for eight years. A Captain in the Welsh Guards, he saw active service in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He left to pursue an acting career, training at Mountview. Theatre credits include the Courtyard Theatre, Theatre 503 and the Etcetera. TV and film credits include National Geographic Channel, Zero Dark Thirty, Long Walk Home and The Underwater Realm. He is a director of Dance Attic Studios in Fulham, SW London.
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11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
MICHAEL SWATTON Sgt Mark ‘Woody’ Woodforde / Ensemble Michael graduated from The Oxford School of Drama in September 2012. He has played Charlie in Defining Moments of Truth and Deception at the Soho Theatre, Harry in Love and Other Vegetables, Rich in Make Believe and Dan in Cold Smoke. He has appeared in numerous short films and recently returned from a horse-drawn tour of Kent playing a ruthless Witch-finder in Ravens. He is currently developing a new play, The Maid of Bankside. CHARLIE DUPRE Nick Winter / Ensemble Charlie trained at Drama Studio London. Recent credits include his own show, The Stories of Shakey P, (rap re-tellings of Shakespeare at Brighton Emporium), Mad Kings and Englishmen (RedHanded Theatre), Hard Feelings (OSO Arts Centre), Romeo and Juliet (The Dell, RSC) and Persae by Van Badham (European premiere). Screen credits include Hanrahan Investigates (Channel 5) and Heartless. His rap adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello is due out on Rocstar Recordings in December. JULIA TAYLOR Bex Pitney Julia graduated from Drama Studio London in 2012, having previously trained at Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Theatre credits include: Joan in Dogs (Tristan Bates), Woman in Absence (Upstairs at Three and Ten), Anna in Dido, Queen of Carthage (The Rose Theatre Bankside), Laertes in Hamlet (The Space) and Madame Royer-Collard in Quills (White Rabbit). Julia has also performed in several short films and will soon be shooting a feature film Miles E. Benedict. SALLY KNYVETTE Mrs Martin / Interviewer Sally has worked extensively in TV and Theatre with directors such as Sir Peter Hall and Mike Alfreds. Best known for her long-running TV roles as Jenna in Blake’s Seven and Kate Sugden in Emmerdale, her latest role was Goneril for Jonathan Miller in King Lear. She has also directed productions of 12 Angry Men, Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?, Inherit The Wind and To Kill a Mocking Bird & Judgment at Nuremberg at the Tricycle Theatre Kilburn and the Bridewell Theatre. HELEN MEADMORE Counsellor / Ensemble / Understudy Bex Pitney Helen trained at Drama Studio London, Amanda Redman’s Artist’s Theatre School, and The New York Film Academy. She has toured Spain for eight months with Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince, and played a variety of parts from Lady Macbeth to Dame Dolly, both on stage and screen. Recent credits include Regan (King Lear) Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Miss Bingley (Pride and Prejudice). This is Helen’s fourth show with Shadow Road Productions.
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DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
PRODUCTION TEAM EMMA KING-FARLOW Writer and Director Founder and Artistic Director, Shadow Road Productions. Recent directing credits include Martin Foreman’s Californian Lives (King’s Head Theatre & OSO), Diamond Days (commissioned by the Barnes Literary Society), Sorry, Wrong Number and The Hitch-Hiker. Emma has staged three previous productions in aid of Combat Stress – The Road to Remembrance, Warriors and The Poetry & The Pity. KATY CRONIN Co-Producer and Communications Advisor Freelance communications and production professional who has held senior roles at The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, the ONE campaign and International Crisis Group. Former journalist and broadcaster with Australian Broadcasting Corporation. MA in Contemporary War and Peace Studies, University of Sussex. MIKE WILLIAMS Co-Producer and Panel Moderator Broadcaster, writer and photographer. Mike currently writes and presents The Why Factor on the BBC World Service and has presented numerous BBC radio programmes. He was the Today Programme’s Foreign Affairs Correspondent and has covered conflicts around the world including Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza, Chechnya, Rwanda and the Balkans. JO ABRAM Stage Manager Jo trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has been involved in a variety of Fringe and Off-West-End productions including Fourth Monkey’s Clockwork Orange, Red Line’s The Possibilities, Galleon Theatre’s Hamlet and The Duchess of Malfi, and The Hurly Burly Show with Polly Rae. She is currently the Technical Stage Manager for The Medieval Banquet, Tower Hill. PHILIP MITCHELL Musical Director Pianist and organist as well as Musical Director for Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical (King’s Head Theatre), Eurocrash
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(European tour and London run) and the Adam Street Singers’ annual shows. Philip is also involved in educational projects and teaches at the Hackney Music Development Trust. He plays for choirs and jazz groups, including the Lewisham NHS choir and Jessica & The Bad Habits. JOLYON ‘JJ’ WALKER Military Advisor Twenty-two years in the British Army, predominantly in the Parachute Brigade with thirteen years as a senior Non Commissioned Officer, serving in eleven fields of operations. JJ’s credits include the BAFTA Award-winning series Mark Of Cain (Channel 4) and Occupation (BBC), and feature film The Patrol which was named Best Film at the Raindance Festival 2013. CLAIRE LLEWELLYN Fight Director Claire initially trained as an actor at Mountview, but discovered a love of stage combat and qualified as a stage combat teacher in 2008. Now a teacher and fight arranger on a wide range of projects and with all age groups, Claire is also a fight performer and always loves a good (safe) scrap! Additional Support from: CLARE DUNLOP Production Assistant JOSEPH CARPENTER Artist (Jacko’s Painting) PAUL KEMBLE Film maker CAROLYN MATTHEWS Hairdresser HELEN COMERFORD Sound MARTIN JESSOP Lighting DAN STYLES Theatrical Weapons and Fight Captain Cover photography - Mike Williams Artwork/design - Peter Beatty
11 November 2013 DREAMS FROM THE PIT
SPECIAL THANKS The Grenadier Guards for their generous support and advice, supply of costumes and cast training. The Grenadiers’ own charity, The Colonel’s Fund Grenadier Guards is designed to support, alleviate and improve the prospects of all Grenadiers who find themselves in need. You can read more about the Fund’s important work and how you could help them at www.grengds.com UAV Tactical Systems Limited for projector hire and installation, costumes and props. The Treehouse, Barnes for use of their lovely upstairs room for rehearsals and warm hospitality always. Nimax Theatres for making it possible to hold this special Remembrance event in one of the West End’s greatest theatres. Wilderness Leisure for 14 pairs of desert boots!
DOES IT MATTER? Does it matter? – losing your legs?... For people will always be kind, And you need not show that you mind When the others come in after hunting To gobble their muffins and eggs. Does it matter? – losing your sight?... There’s such splendid work for the blind; And people will always be kind, As you sit on the terrace remembering And turning your face to the light. Do they matter? – those dreams from the pit?... You can drink and forget and be glad, And people won’t say that you’re mad; For they’ll know you’ve fought for your country And no one will worry a bit. SIEGFRIED SASSOON
Many others have helped, advised, and supported this production: Matthew Ellmer, Arthur Pugh, Lt. General Sir Anthony Denison-Smith, Matt Green-Armytage, Katie Green Armytage, Susie Green-Armytage, Ewan Ross, Brendan Riding, Mark Christian, Nick Todd, Andrew Totten, James Milton, Harry Cleeveley, Brendan Murray, Neil Gow, David King-Farlow, Kay King-Farlow, Lucy Hine, Ann Shukman, John Marham, Faye Waters, Mark Fitt, Jordan Pearce, Matt Wells, Sergeant Greg Mann, Sergeant Antony Bonsell, Guardsman Alex Rollo, Lance Corporal Paul-David Ford (RAMC), Captain Charlie Turner, Lieutenant Miguel Holloway, Lance Sergeant Kenny Wallace, Major William Sallitt TD, F Company Scots Guards, Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards, Jeff Moore.
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DREAMS FROM THE PIT 11 November 2013
COMBAT STRESS Combat Stress is the UK’s leading military charity specialising in the care of Veterans’ mental health. Founded in 1919, our aim is to ensure that Veterans receive the right mental health care, in the right place, at the right time. We treat conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Our services are free of charge to Veterans. To help Veterans rebuild their lives, we provide a range of services: A 24-hour Helpline (tel: 0800 138 1619) for Serving personnel and Veterans, and their families. Community and Outreach – delivered by a UK-wide network of regional teams providing practical and clinical support.
Short-stay clinical treatment – often with other Veterans – at one of our specialist treatment centres in Ayrshire, Shropshire and Surrey. At the moment, Combat Stress is working with over 5,400 Veterans – more than at any time in our long history. This includes 519 Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and 806 who served in Iraq. Demand for our services is rising: 1,700 Veterans contacted us for help in the financial year 2012-2013.