AVAILABLE SOON
It is Easy to be Dead Finborough Theatre
Breón Rydell with the Finborough Theatre presents
Born in Aberdeen, Charles Sorley was studying in Germany when the First World War broke out and was briefly imprisoned as an enemy alien. He was one of the first to join the army in 1914.
Killed in action a year later at the age of 20, his poems are among the most ambivalent , profound and moving war poetry ever written.
It Is Easy To Be Dead tells the story of Sorley’s brief life through his work and music and songs from some of the greatest composers of the period including George Butterworth, Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna, Ivor Gurney, John Ireland, Rudi Stephan and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Unique among the poets of the First World War, Sorley’s life and work fits chronologically into the patriotic idealism of such writers as Julian Grenfell and Rupert Brooke (whom Sorley criticised for his “sentimental attitude”). Perhaps because of his time in Germany before the war, Sorley perceived the truth of the war long before his fellow writers, and anticipated the grim disillusionment of later poets such as Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg and Siegfried Sassoon.
Nominated for an Olivier Award, 7 OffWestEnd Awards and 4 Brooadway World UK Awards.
★★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★★ BritishTheatre.com
★★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ and Pick of The Week, The Sunday Times
★★★★ The Times
★★★★ The Herald
★★★★ Time Out
★★★★ WhatsOnStage
AVAILABLE SOON
Historical Theatre (Drama)
Length: 95 minutes
Language: English
Writer: Neil McPherson
Director: Max Key
Design: Phil Lindley
Costume Design: Charlotte Espiner
Lighting and Video Design: Rob Mills
Sound Design: Nathan Hamilton
Music Direction: Elizabeth Rossiter
Producer Breón Rydell in association with Amanda Castro for the Finborough Theatre
Cast: Hugh Benson, Alexander Knox, Jenny Lee and Tom Marshall
Photo by Scott Rylander
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