Like thousands of students before me, I read Private Peaceful in school and quite enjoyed the story of Tommo, a young teenage boy who signs up for the army during the First World War, but to be honest I hadn’t given it a second thought until Simon Reade’s adaptation of the Michael Morpurgo classic popped up at Belfast’s The American Bar.
Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War 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.
Heading to a Sunday afternoon show by PintSized Productions at The American Bar in Belfast has become something that both Chris and I really look forward to, and Private Peaceful was no different. With cunning direction from Nuala Donnelly, every inch of the tiny stage is used to its full potential as Odhran McNulty plays 22 characters over the course of 80 minutes.
With only a few choice pieces of music, some sound effects and a khaki uniform in his arsenal, this performance is stripped bare of any unnecessary props or crutches, allowing McNulty to let his acting shine through; and shine he does. Energy, passion and an unbridled zest for life are what comes across as the story is told, and with McNulty bounding around the stage, there is a surprising lightness to the story that is more than welcome.
An intimate, startling and thoughtful performance, Private Peaceful is one of the most enjoyable pieces of theatre I’ve seen all year, so be sure to catch it before its short tour ends. Remaining performances are Tues 26th Nov at The American Bar, and Wed 27th Nov at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry. Click here for more information.
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