Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful to play limited run at the Garrick Theatre

A new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful it to play a limited two week season at the Garrick Theatre London this November.

Emily Costello as Private Tommo and James Demaine as Charlie in Private Peaceful. Photo: Eve Dunlop A new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful will transfer from the Barn Theatre in Cirencester to the Bristol Old Vic (21 - 24 October) before arriving at the Garrick Theatre, London for a limited two week season from 7 November. Tickets for Private Peaceful are now on sale.

The highly acclaimed production will now be part of Nimax Theatres’ plans to reopen its theatres and will be the first new production to be staged indoors in London’s West End since the Government closed theatres in March.

There will be a Remembrance Day Gala and Press Night in aid of the Royal British Legion and Farms for City Children (founded by Michael and Clare Morpurgo) at 7 pm on Wednesday 11 November.  There will also be a special 11.01 am performance on 11 November.  Audience capacity will be reduced and distanced for the two-week run.

“I’ve had nearly eighteen years of yesterdays and tomorrows, and tonight I must remember as many of them as I can. Tonight, more than any other night of my life, I want to feel alive!” Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. During the night, he looks back at his short but joyful past growing up in the countryside: his exciting first days at school; the accident in the forest that killed his father; his adventures with Molly, the love of his life; and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the front line.

Emily Costello as Private Tommo and James Demaine as Charlie in Private Peaceful. Photo: Eve Dunlop Michael Morpurgo said of the transfer, “Private Peaceful, the play adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, has had a long and remarkable journey. From book to play to film, the story has grown in stature with each transformation.  But perhaps now has been the most remarkable moment.  With theatres shut down all over the country, The Barn Theatre in Cirencester decided to put on its first indoor show, one of the first in the country, a new co-production by BoxLess Theatre and Take Two Theatrical of Private Peaceful, taking all necessary precautions, a production that has garnered glowing reviews, and is shortly on its way to the Garrick Theatre in London.  This is our theatre at its courageous best: powerful, innovative, unforgettable. Theatre is on its way back, coming home!”

Private Tommo is played by Emily Costello.  Emily is the first female performer to play Tommo on the professional stage and her performance has been described by Michael Morpurgo as “extraordinary”.  This production of Private Peaceful is the first to have two cast members rather than being a solo piece, as it was originally written.  James Demaine will play Charlie and other roles.  It has been staged so that the two actors never touch and are socially distanced.

The production is directed by Alexander Knott, with Zöe Grain as associate director and movement director and composition by James Demaine.  Sound design is by Harry Smith and lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner. Associate producers are Julie Clare, and Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for GingerQuiff Media.

Private Peaceful is a BoxLess Theatre production. It is produced by Jack Maple & Brian Zeilinger-Goode for Take Two Theatricals, and the Barn Theatre (Iwan Lewis, Artistic Director).

Private Peaceful at the Garrick Theatre will mark the West End debuts of the cast and the creative team. BOOK TICKETS TO PRIVATE PEACEFUL AT THE GARRICK THEATRE

Capacity at the Garrick Theatre has been reduced to comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines for social distancing plus robust risk mitigation. In addition to hand sanitation, face coverings and track and trace, other measures will include contactless tickets, temperature testing and the deep clean and sanitation of the theatre.