Timed to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of World War One, Sandi Toksvig’s Bully Boy follows an investigation into severe misconduct by a young solider from a disadvantaged background in the Middle East.
It is carried out by a toffish Falklands veteran, who is confined to a wheelchair and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But despite being poles apart, a bond develops between them.
That Theatre’s version, with Barry McKenna at the helm and Ian Burns as the toff, promises to explore the devastating mental effects of war on both men and the way society treats returning soldiers. It received standing ovations when first performed in London in 2012.
“Sandi Toksvig got so angry about how poorly veterans are treated that she wrote this play – and she has succeeded in doing so with a great deal of pathos and humour,” explains Burns.
“The care given to returning modern day British soldiers is sparse. British army veterans account for ten percent of the prison population and suicide rates are high. The wounded get a small disability pension and help with their rehabilitation.”
And PTSD, contends Burns, is the most problematic of all the conditions to treat, and while some conditions have improved in the last century, many haven’t.
“It’s 100 years after the start of the war that was supposed to end all wars. It didn’t," he said.
Bully Boy
Oct 22-Nov 22; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; performances: weekdays 20:00, Sat 17:00; tickets 165kr, billeten.dk
