A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE
Private Peaceful : A Play For A Small Ensemble
Full-Length Play, Drama / 2w, 5m
The Peaceful brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have a tough rural childhood facing the death of their father, financial hardship and a cruel landlord. Their fierce loyalty to each other pulls them through, until one day they both fall for the same girl. And then the Great War comes. A story of courage, devotion and sibling rivalry on what may be their last night on earth.
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Cast Size
2w, 5m
Details
Summary
The play tells the story of a country lad fighting a war he doesn’t understand for people he cannot respect. We join 18-year-old Private Tommo Peaceful in the trenches as he tells us a story of courage, devotion and sibling rivalry on what may be his last night on earth.
Private Peaceful was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, won the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award and is acknowledged by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, The Butterfly Lion) to be his favourite work. This small ensemble version by Simon Reade was commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse.
History
This version of Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Simon Reade, was developed with the support of Nottingham Playhouse and was first performed at Nottingham Playhouse on 12 February 2022.
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: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
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 ...