A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE
Private Peaceful (Ensemble version)
Full-Length Play, Drama / 5w, 14m
Private Peaceful
by Michael Morpurgo
adapted by Simon Reade
Michael Morpurgo's moving story of a young soldier, killed by firing squad in the First World War.
This adaptation is for ensemble casts - a version for solo actors is also available.
-
Cast Size
5w, 14m -
Subgenre
Adaptation (Literature), Docudrama/History
Details
Summary
“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 rural Devon: 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.
Cast Attributes
- Time Period 1910s/WWI
- Features Period Costumes
Media
“The horrors of war and the joyfulness of life are bound up together in this magnificent show” ***** - The Scotsman
“As moving as the poetry of Wilfred Owen and as painfully memorable as white-hot shrapnel…” ***** - The Sunday Herald
“Morpurgo’s magic, a masterly adaptation by Simon Reade.... This is one hour of your own life you will never forget.” - Daily Mail
"Private Peaceful cuts to the heart of the human condition and brotherhood surrounding the deadly world of the trenches." - WhatsOnStage
"This is another powerful piece of work by Simon Reade." - The Reviews Hub
"Captivating from the start..." - Newark Advertiser
"This was a play that will undoubtedly have a lasting effect." - British Theatre Guide
"Tragedy tinged with hope, this story of brotherly affection foregrounds the family stories that give this most mechanised of wars its human face." - The Review Hub
Licensing & Materials
- Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
Please submit a license request to determine availability.
Authors
Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo began writing stories in the early ’70s, in response to the children in his class at the primary school where he taught in Kent. One of the UK’s best-loved authors and storytellers, Michael was appointed Children’s Laureate in 2003. He has written ...