John Retallack tells Katherine MacAlister about his tale of soldiers

Within a week of opening, Pink Mist sold out, triumphing in Bristol and then London.

But despite its success, bringing it to the stage proved much harder work than expected for Oxford’s John Retallack, turning into a labour of love.

Written by Owen Sheers, Retallack’s new play is about three friends deployed to Afghanistan and their resulting mental scars, the playwright and director never wavering in his belief that Pink Mist needed to be seen.

“It was quite simply the best script I had ever seen. I did not know who the playwright Owen Sheers was at the time” John tells me, “but I knew immediately when I read the script what I wanted to do with it, because it’s such a moving play, and got George Mann (Theatre Ad Infinitum) on board to co-direct it with me, to bring the right movement and sound to the play.

“It’s a great, great text and in that sense very attractive in every genre. It is very striking, thanks to its choreography and movement. It’s a really physical work of art and unlike anything else.”

The subject matter is equally as dynamic, the writer Owen Sheers basing his verse on 30 hours of interviews with ex service men deployed to Afghanistan.

“It’s about three lads and the women in their lives and is a very accessible story,” John continues. “It’s about the incalculable costs of war and the effect the conflict has on their lives.

“But it’s not detrimental to the army, because they all wanted to join up. They were in dead end jobs and had the time of their life there. In fact, in the interviews many personnel said they would do it all over again regardless of what had happened to them.

“These boys were delivering parcels and cars and working in clothes shops before that. They had poor educations and the army brought out all their best characteristics.

“So while Pink Mist doesn’t give you answers, it is an insight into the realities of war and what it means to be a young soldier – their involvement and commitment.

“It totally engages the audience whose reaction is pretty unanimous every time they see it. But at the same time it makes you ask questions in a non preachy way. Pink Mist is emotional as well as intelligent,” John adds.

If his instinct was right, his belief was stronger, and after Bristol Old Vic, where he was working, turned it down, John brought Pink Mist to Oxford.

John, the former director of Oxford Stage Company and founder of Company of Angels and ATC theatre companies, now runs the Writing For Performance courses at Ruskin College and stages regular read-throughs in front of about 100 people.

“They are enormously popular and that’s how I introduced Pink Mist – in the top room at the Playhouse.”

Bristol Old Vic heard how well it had been received, and agreed to stage it after all, the run selling out. London’s Bush Theatre following suit. So it only seems fitting that Pink Mist will spend a week at Oxford Playhouse in its final form

“This is my home town, and where I most wanted to bring it,” John admits. “So I’m very proud we have managed it.”

Pink Mist

Oxford Playhouse

February 14-18

oxfordplayhouse.com

01865 305305