A story of comradeship, betrayal and of promises both broken and kept following the carnage of World War One
Ross Ericson is an accomplished British actor and writer. His other plays include Casualties, an adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel Tom Jones, Punchline, Life and The Autumn of Han.
Strong writing, an original approach and a sensitive performance
bring fresh power to a reminder of the horrors of war
*Stage*
It’s not about glory or futility, it’s about the loyalty forged
between friends . . . Ericson’s writing is strong to give it
vividness, and he does a good job of expressing a range of
emotions, from despair to wry humour
*Scotsman*
[The Unknown Soldier] runs for around an hour and, during that
time, I didn’t feel for one moment that I was not in a bunker, in
the trenches, sharing the mud with a body and soul tired soldier.
Written and performed by Ross Ericson, I valued the direct style of
a monologue in which the solo performer addresses a friend who is
now beyond the grave, but also includes we, the audience in that
narrative. This is a piece of direct, storytelling theatre, full of
humour and tragedy . . . [It] is a very well written piece. It is
full of detail, clearly and meticulously researched . . . I felt
drawn in. I stayed drawn in. As I write this review . . . I think
of my own grandfather (no longer with us) who fought in the Somme.
I think of the fact there are soldiers in trenches in parts of our
world right now, some of whom will die unknown. And I’m glad I
shared an hour with such an accomplished writer and performer . . .
We can learn from this story. It is both an exhibit from history
and a lesson for the future. I shared the fear, portrayed so well
by Ericson. I wouldn’t want that for my kids. The Unknown Soldier
remains with me. That’s strong theatre.
*Fringe Review*
Passionate . . . written on a rising tide of emotion . . . There is
a trace of Pinter in his handling of dialogue, while the
increasingly insistent interrogation of Emma by Peter carries a
whiff of J B Priestley's An Inspector Calls.
*Daily Telegraph on "Casualties"*
Infinitely more intense than anything I've seen on film . . . These
scenes ring true.
*Time Out on "Casualties"*
Bristling with tension and squaddie humour, new four-hander
Casualties in the exciting opening season at Park Theatre in
Finsbury Park is a nail-biting exploration of this - but far more
than a one-dimensional shoot-em-up . . . Ericson's message is
unmistakeable - what these men (and women) do for a living goes
unappreciated by their seniors, a waste of life which stretches
beyond the frontline. Casualties . . . will easily leave you
reeling.
*Whatsonstage on "Casualties"*
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