The Royal Court Theatre has announced the British and Argentinian Falkland war veterans who will perform in Minefield by Lola Arias.
The performers include Lou Armour, David Jackson, Rubén Otero, Sukrim Rai, Gabriel Sagastume and Marcelo Vallejo.
Some of them got medals, and some were forgotten. Some of them continue in the forces and others started new lives as psychologists, musicians, teachers, security guards. Today the only thing they have in common is that they are all veterans.
Running as part of the LIFT festival, Lola Arias’s new work brings together British and Argentinian veterans of the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas war to share their experiences of the war and life after the conflict.
The production, which merges film, re-enactment and documentary theatre, will bring together those who fought on opposite sides together to share their thoughts and experiences of both sides of the conflict.
Lou Armour was on the cover of every newspaper when the Argentines took him prisoner on 2 April 1982 and is now a special needs teacher. Rubén Otero survived the sinking of ARA General Belgrano and is now in a Beatles tribute band. David Jackson spent his time at war listening and transcribing radio codes and now listens to other veterans in his psychology practice. Gabriel Sagastume was a soldier who never wanted to shoot and is now a criminal attorney. Sukrim Rai was a Ghurka who knew how to use his knife and currently works as a security guard. Marcelo Vallejo was an aimer for mortar and is now a triathlon champion.
This unique show features design by Mariana Tirantte, lighting by David Seldes and music by Ulises Conti.
Commenting on the project, director Lola Arias said: “I’m interested in investigating what happens with time. In fact, this piece needed time. It needed 34 years. War doesn’t interest me, post-war interests me. What matters to me is what happens to a person who went through that experience. What matters to me is what memory has done, what it has erased, what it has transformed. Some have become professional storytellers and my work was and is to undo this in order to know what happened to them.”
Minefield will appear at the Royal Court Theatre as part of the LIFT Festival from the 2nd to the 11th June. For more information visit: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/minefield