The Silence
Studio Theatre Ilfracombe

drama

13+

60 mins

mainstage@QT

Thu at 21:00

Sat at 16:30

Sun at 17:30

The Silence
Studio Theatre Ilfracombe

On the crest of the wave or taking refuge in its silence … before it crashes? Forty years from the Falklands War, we take time to consider its effect on a soldier soon afterwards.

David Fletcher wrote this play for the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa, and he has allowed us to give it another airing in this 40th year since the Falklands War. The play is based on a case study, “Earning the right to work with Rick – a traumatised client”, which described Dave Mearns’s experience of working with a traumatised soldier who had returned from war unable to communicate. It is so well-written and we find it very moving to rehearse.

Jonathan Rodney-Jones has made our hospital furniture for us! Here we are, having just taken delivery of it:

The cast

  • Chris Mason, counsellor … Elizabeth Hill

    Elizabeth Hill grew up in Bideford and recently returned to live in North Devon after a career spent abroad. Locally, she played the role of ‘Mother’ in BCMDS’s production of Private Peaceful in 2018. She is very happy with Studio Theatre’s role of Chris Mason in The Silence and is delighted to perform at the Barnstaple Fringe: “This role has opened up a whole new world to me. I knew nothing about Relational Depth Therapy and the play is all the more impactful and thought-provoking as it is based on a true story”.

  • Sergeant Matthew Williams … Simon Wallis
  • Major Whitfield, hospital administrator … Linda Corns

    “It is quite amazing to be part of this play, because I have been to the Falklands.” Linda visited the Falklands in 2002 and found it very emotional seeing the remote, barren islands over which we had fought. “As well as the British pub – The Globe – we saw the evidence of the sunken ships and the minefields.”

  • Hospital orderlies (and sounds off) … Nathan Rodney-Jones and Thomas Heaton

Directed by Cecily Blyther

Many thanks to

  • Jonathan Rodney-Jones
  • The 5th North Devon Scouts
  • Tom and Hilary Bigge
  • Sharon Blyth
  • Up Close Theatre
  • Barnstaple Musical Comedy and Dramatic Society
  • Cobbaton Combat Collection
  • Rebellion (Flame) Costumes

strong language

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