Not About Heroes

Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald.

During the First World War, two of England's greatest 20th Century war poets met at Craiglockhart War Hospital for Nervous Disorders.  Siegfried Sassoon was a decorated war hero hospitalised after protesting against the continuing war.  Wilfred Owen was a victim of shell shock and accused of cowardice.  Weaving their great poetry, letters, and autobiographical writings, this emotionally powerful and often witty play tells the moving story of the friendship that transformed them both.

We want to produce this play at the Uxbridge Creative Centre in Howick, Auckland from May 1 2015 to May 7 2015. We are hoping to stage a special matinee performance for the RSA and members of local retirement villages. In addition to the public performances in the evening, we are performing four shows for local schools. Not About Heroes ties into the English, Drama and History curriculums at most levels and is a fantastic tool to open up discussions on poetrty and theatre techniques certianly, but also on war, homosexuality, women's roles in war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the attitudes to all of these in 1917 Britain.

The long term plan is to tour Not About Heroes to Secondary Schools in Auckland with a half day programme involving pre-show discussions, a presentation of the play and break out discussion groups afterwards according to students' interests.

Crossfade is a new production company comprising Terry Hooper as Director and Hanna von Randow as Producer. We hope Not About Heroes and its tour will be the first of many collaborations.

Follow our journey on our Facebook page where we will keep you up to date with cast announcements, booking information and snippets of Owen's and Sassoon's magnificent poetry.

Thank you for your support!!