A UNIQUE performance by the Bristol Old Vic is due to take place in Iddesleigh next week ? thanks to a local connection with the village dating back to the first world war.
The company is to perform its highly acclaimed production of Children?s Laureate Michael Morpurgo?s recent book, Private Peaceful, at St James? Church just once, on Monday September 6.
The central character in the book, Private Tommo Peaceful, a young first world war soldier, was born and grew up in the village.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Iddesleigh-based charity Farms for City Children, which was founded by Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare, and to St James? Church.
In the moving play, Tommo looks back over his short life as he anticipates a firing squad at dawn. He relives his joyful childhood in Iddesleigh, his adventures with his brother Charlie and with Molly, the love of his life ? and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the front line.
Michael Morpurgo was moved to write Private Peaceful following his shock at discovering how many young soldiers were court-martialled and shot for cowardice during the first world war.
He said: ?I happened to interview three farm boy veterans, then well into their eighties, when I was researching my book War Horse. They told me something of what they had lived through.
?There was no poetry in their stories, only horror and regret and great sadness for the loss of good friends ? so I came to write Private Peaceful.?
Bristol Old Vic?s adaptation of the book stars Paul Chequer, best known as Jamie from Channel 4?s teen drama As If.
The play comes to Iddesleigh having enjoyed a successful run at Bristol Old Vic and the Edinburgh Festival, proving popular with audiences of all ages.
The play starts at 7pm. Tickets cost £8 (£6 concessions) and are available from Farms for City Children on 01837 810573 or by e-mailing [email protected]">[email protected]