“It’s like food rationing - but with words”
Award-winning writer Kevin Fegan has turned an amazing wartime Barrow story into our latest theatre production.
25 Words opens our IF! Inclusion Festival on the weekend of 8 and 9 November (Remembrance Sunday) at Barrow Town Hall.
This true story of a Barrow family in World War 2, it centres around the experiences of soldier Michael Lowden who is captured at the fall of Singapore and becomes a prisoner of war.
Meanwhile back in Barrow, his father, Charles, launches an appeal and brings the community together to support the families of POWs. Charles is allowed by the Japanese authorities to write 25 words a month to his captive son.
This remarkable tale of love, hope, resilience and triumph came about when the soldier’s family got in touch with Theatre Factory and wondered if it could be worked into a drama.
We turned to writer Kevin Fegan to craft the story using the original 25 word messages sent to the captive soldier.
Now, as tickets for the two performances go on sale, we invited Kevin to discuss his approach to this production.
What did you first think being asked to look at this story for a potential drama?
Kevin: My first thought was that Michael’s story is just so dramatic. He goes through so many ordeals - war, being captured at the fall of Singapore, being torpedoed and getting rescued in the South China Sea. Being forced into hard labour on the ‘death railway’ to Burma and surviving against all the odds when many thousands of POW’s lost their lives.
You have the experience Michael went through but you also have the story of those at home in Barrow - how they coped not knowing whether their loved ones were alive or dead. How they handled snippets of information from the war - yet not really knowing exactly what was going on.
Tell us about the title?
Kevin: It’s remarkable that after 80 years the messages were kept. The family had just 25 words to write to loved ones. That was an inspiration for me - it's like poetry. You have to say as much as you can in as few words as possible. It felt like the right title. This was the starting point.
What kind of things does dad Charles write to his captive son?
Kevin: It must’ve been so difficult to try to convey feelings in such little words. It’s like food rationing but with words. On one hand the messages contained routine family announcements but I think you have to read between the lines. It’s almost about what isn’t said . . .
How hard was it to balance making an entertaining play but dealing with the realities of war?
Kevin: If you are going to remember things, you need to remember the reality.
I had to be sensitive to the content of the story. I had to take on the responsibility of telling the true story of that family.
But at the same time I could not shy away from the reality of the experience for those soldiers. They were subjected to absolute brutality.
There are some lighter moments in 25 Words. It was really important to include some humour. But it’s important for me as a playwright not to sanitise the experience.
What these people went through was horrendous. To be sunk at sea, to be fighting for your life, to be forced into hard labour miles from home -wondering if you would ever see home again. I had to bear all this in mind.
25 Words takes place over Remembrance weekend
Kevin: Yes, it feels so appropriate for this to be taking place at this time.
It can’t become a version of the truth that is comfortable, you have to be in-touch with the experiences that make us uncomfortable. A lot of veterans' stories are difficult to tell and listen too.
25 Words takes place at Barrow Town Hall on
Saturday and Sunday 8 & 9 November
Tickets are FREE or by donation here:
