Verdant Productions & Pemberley Productions Present
Private Peaceful
by Michael Morpurgo
Directed and Adapted for Stage by Simon Reade
Presented in partnership with The Harry Ransom Center, Texas Theatre and Dance, and KLRU-TV
To commemorate the 100- year anniversary of the conclusion of World War I, Private Peaceful is a timely reminder of the heroic sacrifices that were made by those involved in the conflict.
Following the worldwide success of Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling book, film, and stage play, War Horse, Simon Reade adapted this stage version of Morpurgo’s award-winning book, Private Peaceful.
This riveting one-man play relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young 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. Don’t miss this moving, funny, and heart-breaking play.
Poetry on the Plaza: World War I
Fri, Nov 16
12:00 pm
Harry Ransom Center, Plaza
For General Public
Actor Shane O’Regan will read selections from Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful and Ferdia At The Ford, along with poems by Patrick Kavanagh and Seamus Heaney.
Hosted by Danielle Sigler, Associate Director Scholarly Programs, Harry Ransom Center
Discussion with Creative Team
Fri, Nov 16
Immediately Following the Performance
McCullough Theatre
For Ticket Holders
Heart-warming, as well as wrenching. A timely reminder of the heroic sacrifices that were made by those invoiced in the conflict.
– Edinburgh Evening News
Articles
The Week Ahead - THEATER: Only One Soldier Marches Onstage - The New York Times
Private Peaceful from Texas Performing Arts on YouTube.
Fun Facts:
- Private Peaceful is based on the book by Michael Morpurgo, who also wrote War Horse and over 100 books for children.
- Michael Morpurgo was an acquaintance of the poet, Ted Hughes. It was the two of them who came up with the idea of the ‘Children’s Laureate,’ and honor which Morpurgo himself received.
- 2018 marks 100 years since the conclusion of the First World War.
- Director and adapter Simon Reade’s adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland won the TMA Award for Best Show for Young People.
- Simon Reade wrote the screenplay and was a producer on the British film, Journey’s End starring Asa Butterfield, Paul Bettany, and Sam Claflin.
- In 2016, Simon Reade directed a ground-breaking Iraqi tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Arabic and Kurdish.