9 Circles

A powerful and moving play with tight, pacey direction from an extremely professional team. Through the discharge, trial and eventual execution of one soldier, with no empathy for those he kills and sho raped and shot innocent civilians we get a view of war that is deeply uncomfortable. Whilst he admits to the actions, his discharge was "honourable" to hide the crime, his recruitment was flawed (it required a morality waiver), he was shopped by his colleagues to save their own skins and he was scapegoated to assuage the guilt of those who sent him to war. As we accompany him on his journey through the 9 circles we question many aspects of society, soldiers and war itself. As is said in the play, if we empathise with those we kill how can war continue? Thought provoking.