July 1916. Albert Ingham and Alfred Longshaw are crouched in a muddy, rat- infested trench in France. These sharp and funny young soldiers from a battalion of the Manchester Pals are about to take part in one of the most savage assaults in the history of human warfare, The Battle of the Somme.
First Light is a gripping thriller that exposes the impact of the First World War on soldiers and their families. They are ordered to transfer to the Machine Gun Corps and return to the blood-soaked front line. They decide to make their own decision. But becoming a deserter, the most embarrassing and shameful sort of fighting man, takes more courage than they ever knew they had.
This 2-hour WW1-themed production of, First light was my first leading role in a serious play.
Expanding my range in serious theatre was such a thrill and has excited me for the future.
This gripping wartime play also gave me the opportunity to have a shot at directing, a role I thoroughly enjoyed. Directing many of the scenes gave me a better understanding of forming a piece of theatre.
