THE first play ever to premiere in Bournemouth town hall’s council chamber opened on Wednesday as part of Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea Festival.

BAFTA award winning playwright John Foster turned the council chamber into a battlefield of history as he exposed the brutality of the British state.

The play revealed the horrifying true story of two Tommy’s serving in the Dorsetshire regiment, who were tried and shot for cowardice and desertion during the first world war, when they were actually suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.

Jarvis, played by Mark Freestone, was the first man to be sentenced to death. Freestone’s portrayal of this shellshocked officer had us gasping for air in the wide open chamber. How could this stuttering, trembling gentleman be condemned when he was simply bewildered by the horror of war?

Before we could come to terms with this tragedy, Adam Jessop, playing Private Squire, gave a nuanced performance of a young lad who had joined the fight full of bravery, only to find the horrors of the trenches too much to bear.

We watched in pain as Judge Weston, played with great gusto by Russell Biles, barked out his merciless sentences. Biles’ performance was full of selfrighteousness, and his aristocratic pomp highlighted the class injustice of the Great War.

Kirstie Davis’ outstanding direction used the chamber to its full potential, allowing us to view the trials from every angle. The lighting emphasised the mood of each scene, and regimented military music throughout contrasted with a neurotic throbbing that filled the room with dread. As the final shots sounded, Shot at Dawn left me feeling utterly stunned.

Shot At Dawn runs until Friday. For more information please visit artsbournemouth.org.uk

Nick Taylor