World War Why? brings absurdist satire to Durham Fringe
A group of students and graduates from the Northern School of Art in Hartlepool are bringing their sharp-edged comedy to this year's Durham Fringe Festival, with performances of World War Why? at the City Theatre on 29 and 30 July.
Written and directed by Shaun Patrick Wilson, the 50-minute piece imagines a world at war not between nations, but between the right-handed and the left-handed. Split between the trenches and the generals' office, the play follows soldiers and commanders as they live out very different versions of the same conflict - asking, along the way, whether any of it means anything to the people fighting it, or whether it's all just a game to those giving the orders.
Drawing inspiration from Blackadder and Oh! What a Lovely War, the show leans into the absurdity of its premise while not shying away from war's harsher realities, mixing comedic set pieces with more gut-wrenching moments. It's billed as a piece that will get audiences laughing and questioning in equal measure, and comes with a content warning for loud noises, flashing lights, strong language, and depictions of violence and suicide, with an age suitability of 14+.
The cast features Joshua Brown, Josh Prudence, Sophie Pedlar and Stephen Lister, all currently studying or recently graduated from the BA(Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course at the Northern School of Art. The production has already had one outing this year, performed at ARC Stockton in June as part of the "A Bunch of Plays" showcase, before this run at Durham Fringe.
Speaking ahead of the festival, cast member Joshua Brown said the team were keen to bring the show to Durham audiences: "It's a show that makes you think, laugh and question the concept of war. It's not one to miss."
Tickets:
World War Why? plays at the City Theatre, Durham, on 29 and 30 July at 3pm. Tickets are £7, available via the Durham Fringe Festival website.
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