This brand-new production of Arms and The Man is the collaboration of three theatre companies; Shaw 2020, Split/Shift Theatre Company and Michael Friend Productions. Bernard Shaw is considered one of the most important English-Language playwrights after Shakespeare. At least half a dozen of his plays still remains part of the world repertoire and this one, written in 1893, is the first of Shaw’s so-called ‘Plays Pleasant’ and it’s a gem.

A young and diverse audience gathered to watch at the beautiful setting of the Lauderdale House Tea Lawn, which was great to see as the Shaw 2020 mission is to bring the works of Bernard Shaw to a wider audience. The backdrop to Arms and The Man is the war between Serbia and Bulgaria in the winter of 1885/86. Shaw uses this to explore some of his favourite issues: disillusionment with war, romantic love and social status. The excellent cast, under the expert direction of Michael Friend, transport us from a lovely warm evening in North London to a small town in Bulgaria…