Private Peaceful at Nottingham Playhouse: Michael Morpurgo's story of love and war to be told in adaptation of novel

A powerful tale of love and war will be told an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful comes to the Nottingham Playhouse.

Set in rural Devon and the battlefields of Northern France, Private Peaceful tells the story of brothers, Tommo and Charlie, whose tough rural childhood, framed by the loss of their father, forges an irrevocable sibling loyalty.

Until one day, when they both fall for the same girl, and the Great War comes.

Here we join 18-year-old Private Tommo Peaceful in the trenches as he takes us on a journey through his most cherished memories and tells his story of courage, devotion, family and friendship on what may be his last night on earth.

The production is at the Playhouse until February 26 before embarking on a national tour.

It will feature Daniel Boyd (Great Expectations—West Yorkshire Playhouse, Oppenheimer—Royal Shakespeare Company) as Charlie and Daniel Rainford (Once Upon a Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia— Almeida Theatre, Horse Shoes for Hand Grenades— East Riding Theatre) as Thomas among a talented cast.

Acknowledged by Michael Morpurgo as his favourite work, this professional premiere is a new ensemble-version by Simon Reade.

It tells the story of a country lad fighting a war he doesn’t understand for people he cannot respect.

The UK Tour is produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and supported by Arts Council England through a National Lottery Project Grant award.