Following on from the success of The Two Worlds of Charlie F, Armed Forces champion and award-winning actor Ray Winstone has called upon the military community to back an innovative theatre project from The Royal British Legion at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre in Buckinghamshire.
The Bravo 22 Company project will see members of the local Armed Forces community form a unique theatre company that will create, produce and perform a play based on their own experiences of military life.
Real life stories re-enacted
Service personnel transitioning into civilian life, veterans, Reservists and Armed Forces families are being asked to share their stories for the new stage show to be produced by the critically acclaimed Director Stephen Rayne and performed at the theatre at the end of March.
The project has been designed to help company members build self-esteem, confidence and motivation, while also aiding the transition of Service personnel into civilian life.
Ray Winstone (pictured right), an ambassador for the project, urged the local military community to get involved: “Bravo 22 Company is a project I have been involved with since it began in 2011.
“I am delighted that due to this success the theatre model is being rolled out regionally and Buckinghamshire will be the first region to benefit from it.”
The project has been financed by the Legion and match funded by Buckinghamshire’s Armed Forces Community Covenant scheme.
Capturing the imagination
Carol Smith, Assistant Director of Operations, The Royal British Legion, said: “After the Bravo 22 project has visited Aylesbury we will be launching a second regional project with the Theatre Royal Plymouth later this year, with the potential to work with other regional theatres in the future.
“We hope this unique project will continue to capture the imagination of audiences around the UK.”
Alice Driver, Bravo 22 Company Project Manager, said: “Through Bravo 22 Company this exciting new project will give a voice to the Armed Forces family in Buckinghamshire.
“The aim of the project is to help company members to improve self-awareness, confidence and motivation to support their individual recovery, and in particular, help those who are transitioning into civilian life.”
To find out more and get involved, visit www.britishlegion.org.uk/bravo22