Jack stayed on when the guns fell silent, to search the battlefields for the boys that could not go home - for the dead and the missing, for both enemy and friend. Amongst the rusty wire and unexploded bombs Jack is looking for something – looking for someone. He has a promise to keep and a debt to repay, and now there is this strange request from the generals.

The Unknown Soldier is moving, often humorous, but above all thought provoking. It looks at the First World War from a new perspective, through the eyes of a man who has survived the carnage but who finds it hard to return home. A story of comradeship, betrayal and of promises both broken and kept following the carnage of World War One. Official EdFringe 2016 sell out show by award nominated writer of Casualties.

The Unknown Soldier is presented by Grist to the Mill. Grist to the Mill was founded in 2012 with a specific aim to bring new writing to the world’s stages. Resident writer Ross Ericson has had noted success with his critically acclaimed adaptation of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones and his play Casualties, which was nominated for Best New Play at the OffWestend Awards and published by Methuen. Grist also co-produced The Autumn of Han and DiaoChan with Red Dragonfly. 5 stars The Unknown Soldier sold-out it’s run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016 and is also published by Methuen Bloomsbury.

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The Unknown Soldier is part of SILENT RAID, a co-production between Southwark Council, the Friends of Burgess Park and Theatre Deli, a series of events commemorating the First World War Centenary and the Zeppelin attack in Burgess Park.

The show will follow open-to-all activities running from 2pm till 4:30, including: history walks telling the story of the “Silent Raid", a mini Zeppelin 1917 exhibition, a performance from the Camberwell Community Choir, and a viewing of the new art work by Sally Hogarth in commemoration of the Zeppelin attack on Calmington Road. For more details, visit the following link.

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Reviews for The Unknown Soldier

***** ‘If you don’t ever want to see another WW1 play, then you want to see *this*. Superb!’ - Fringe Guru
***** ‘An unmissable and thought-provoking play that has so much relevance in today’s society’ - Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
***** ‘Powered by a magnificent solo performance from Ross Ericson’ - ThreeWeeks
***** ‘An exemplary piece of solo theatre. It can certainly hold its head up among the best of war stories’ - The Wee Review (formerly TVBomb)
**** ‘An original perspective on a story we think we all know, and offer a reminiscence that... is
poignant and thought-provoking’ - The Independent
**** ‘It’s not about glory or futility, it’s about the loyalty forged between friends’ - The Scotsman
**** ‘Strong writing, an original approach and a sensitive performance bring fresh power to a reminder of the horrors of war.’ - The Stage
**** ‘Filled with far more nuance and originality than most Great War plays’ - British Theatre Guide

OUTSTANDING SHOW Fringe Review ‘You won’t be disappointed’

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