Injured heroes of Bravo 22 to stage fightback in West End

13 April 2012

A company of injured servicemen and women are to perform in the West End in a play they have written and produced as part of their road to recovery.

The soldiers, sailors and Royal Marines, who have been hurt in the line of the duty, will tread the boards at the Theatre Royal Haymarket this Sunday in a show backed by actor Ray Winstone and director Sir Trevor Nunn.

The play - The Two Worlds of Charlie F - is written by author and playwright Owen Sheers in conjunction with the troops.

It draws on their experiences from training to combat in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and their subsequent battles with life-changing injuries.

The 32 members of Bravo 22 Company, are still serving members of the armed forces and range from a double amputee to those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The theatre project is intended to help the participants re-enter civilian life. Producer Alice Driver, who is from the Theatre's Royal's in-house charity Masterclass, said the idea came to her after talking to a surgeon who works at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where injured troops receive specialist care.

Ms Driver said: "This wasn't meant to be some airy-fairy therapy, but a chance for a group of wounded, injured and sick soldiers and Marines to work with a first-class theatre and produce, write, light, and perform in their own play.

"When people are injured they lose their confidence and their sense of self. They are telling us now this experience has given them their voice back."

The lead role is played by Royal Marine Cassidy Little, 30, who lost his right leg below the knee in a bomb blast in Afghanistan last May.

He said: "This has been a healthy distraction and a chance to stop feeling sorry for yourself and take part in something with similar people."

There are two performances this Sunday.

For more, visit bravo22company.com

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