‘Only Soldiers’ to be performed at British Council

The British Council and Mind Adventures Theatre Company present a new play inspired by events in Sri Lanka during World War II.

Directed by Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke, ‘Only Soldiers’ is loosely based on accounts described in Michael Tomlinson’s book, ‘The Most Dangerous Moment’. 

In March 1946, when Sir Winston Churchill was asked what the most dangerous moment of the war was, he considered this to be the news that the Japanese fleet had been heading for Ceylon and its strategic naval bases. “The capture of Ceylon,” he said, “the consequent control of the Indian Ocean…would have closed the ring and the future would have been black.” 

Amidst the backdrop of when the Japanese fleet attacked naval bases in Ceylon, ‘Only Soldiers’ looks at the bonds of war, the families formed and the friends lost.

It is April 1942 and World War II has spread to the East. Lenny, Charles, Jack and Godfrey are four Allied airmen stuck on an observational airbase in Ceylon, as far away from combat as they can imagine. Their days consist of humour and hijinks – anything to keep themselves occupied – until one day they receive an order that could change everything.

Mind Adventures will use the flexible features of the British Council’s new library to transform space, time and place as they explore this often ignored moment in history.

Only Soldiers is written and performed by Ruvin de Silva, Brandon Ingram, Rajinda Jayasinghe and Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke. The play has a 15+ rating as it includes age restricted content.

The show opens on 11 June and goes on until 18 June, 8 p.m. at the British Council Library.

Tickets are priced at Rs. 1,000 and early reservations are advised due to a limited number of seating. Reservations can be made on 0773411003 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.