Preview

A Brave Face, The Haymarket, Basingstoke

Vamos Theatre presents A Brave Face at The Haymarket on Wednesday, 21 February at 7.30pm, a co-production with Mercury Theatre Colchester and a co-commission with London International Mime Festival.

It’s 2009 in Afghanistan. Under bright blue skies, a small girl stands and watches a soldier. She smiles, just like his sister. Ryan is there to see the world, learn a trade, get a life.

Training is complete, combat is a buzz; he’s part of a team, and knows his job. But on one particular hot and desperate tour of duty, Ryan sees things he can’t talk about, to anyone. And then, when he returns home, the trouble really begins.

A Brave Face explores post traumatic stress disorder, an unseen and often unrecognised injury of war, and the impact it can have on even the closest of families.

It has been created from over two years of extensive research into post traumatic stress in the military, talking and working with ex- and serving soldiers and their families, as well as mental health practitioners, journalists, and staff from organisations such as Help for Heroes, and the pioneering Recovery Centre, Chavasse VC House.

With compassion and fearlessness, Vamos brings its trademark, wordless, full mask style to a story that needs to be told.

Tickets for A Brave Face are priced at £12.

For more information or for tickets, call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244, or visit anvilarts.org.uk.