Written by Alan Forrest Smith.
Directed by Nigel Hurvey.
“Call me Bastard!”
The Father leaves a meeting knowing his nineteen-year-old son will soon be sent to war.
The Mother makes a desperate plea to stop what cannot be stopped.
The Son dreams of glory, ready to fight for his country — even if it means certain death.
The Leader calmly discusses the next strategic move.
Four voices. Four perspectives. One war.
Written over a decade ago, the work now feels chillingly prophetic — a warning for both the present and the future. Through the voices of a father, a mother, a son, and a leader, the play explores the embedding of thoughts — the seeds of conflict and unresolved ideas that give rise to the same Bastard.
War is the Bastard. And Bastard is War.
The audience is drawn into an urgent question: Is resolution ever the end — or is it only The End (for now)?
One Night Only — Intimate Setting: Only 80 Seats Available
Experience this raw, immediate theatre up close. Reserve your seats now.
“A Wake-Up Call To A Sleeping Civilisation Built On War”
“A Gritty, Disturbing, Enlightening”
“Masterfully Beautiful”
Presented by The Alan Forrest Smith Literary Foundation as part of the Altrincham Storytelling Festival
In collaboration with: Oyez Arts
Supported by: Master And Man | Arts Council England | Write Your Book Project
Credits:
Writer: Alan Forrest Smith
Director & Creative Producer: Nigel Harvey
Executive Producer: Tamara Forrest-Smith
Content note: Contains themes of war, trauma, and emotional distress. Recommended age: 14+ | Running time: ~60 minutes followed by a panel discussion with the audience.