Johnny Got His Gun, Southwark Playhouse

Theatre about or honouring the First World War is already abounding in London, and with Johnny Got His Gun at the Southwark Playhouse, it’s a tale told from the perspective of an American recruit. The raw warehouse feel of the Southwark Playhouse lends itself perfectly to this searing and powerful indictment on war.

At its heart lies Johnny (Joe) Bonham. Similar to Harry Heegan of The Silver Tassie (soon to open at The National), Joe is devastatingly injured by flying shrapnel, and is left to reflect upon his life and what it meant, in the context of a world that chews through its young men. A song of the time bearing the same name includes the lyrics ‘Johnny got his gun, Johnny pulled the trigger and the hammer came down, Gun kicked Johnny right back on the ground.

When asked what he found so compelling about Johnny Got His Gun, director David Mercatali said, “It shows us unflinchingly the suffering of young privates sent out to ‘fight for liberty’ at the behest of their superiors... As soon as I read Johnny I had to do it... I found it very beautiful, I loved and cared for the character, loved hearing about his childhood and family, struggled with his adversities, rooted for him throughout. And I knew an audience would too.”

David Mercatali is a young director but already has illustrious credits on his resume— Our Ajax and Feathers in the Snow, both for the Southwark Playhouse, and the UK tour of Tender Napalm, Phillip Ridley’s gorgeous two-handed romance. He has also just directed Ridley’s Dark Vanilla Jungle. Together, he and Metal Rabbit Theatre Company have a gift of bringing meaning and passion to experimental theatre such as this.

Jack Holden (War Horse) will be taking on the part of Joe Bonham. An actor and writer, Holden has a huge love of the script and his character’s journey through memory. Whilst he only graduated from the Bristol Old Vic theatre school a few years ago, he has proved himself a capable and thoughtful actor.