A moving play about the nature of friendship, love and the art of war comes to Theatr Colwyn in Colwyn Bay on Monday, November 2.
Not About Heroes is presented by Frapetus Productions and focuses on the friendship between the First World War poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen.
In 1917, at the height of the First World War, the poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon was admitted to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh, officially for treatment for shell-shock, but in truth because he had published his Soldier’s Declaration, denouncing the conduct of the war by the British establishment.
During his time there he met Wilfred Owen, who was suffering with shellshock and was accused of cowardice following the death of his lieutenant during battle in France. The two developed a special friendship from their shared love of poetry.
Owen was killed in action, a year later. By this time he had written what is now considered to be the finest poetry of the Great War.
Unlocking Owen's genius
Stephen MacDonald’s play Not About Heroes, which premiered in Edinburgh in 1982, examines how the two poets’ friendship unlocked Owen’s genius.
The play reaches Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, on November 2 as part of a Welsh tour.
Not About Heroes is produced by Frapetsus Productions and follows their highly successful tour of rugby comedy Bred in Heaven – The road to Twickers!
The play is directed by Michael Kelligan, artistic director of the Welsh Fargo stage company.
Tickets for Not About Heroes are available from www.theatrcolwyn.co.uk or by calling 01492 577888.
