Review of Journey's End (2017) by David W — 07 Nov 2017

This is a superbly-acted play about life in a command bunker during the final stages of the Great War. It has no special effects, no gore and almost no battle noises. Instead we are left to work out for ourselves what is happening.

And we realise we are seeing the British Army at the very end of its resources, for here are men who should never have been drafted, because they are either too old, too young or not fit to command. The sense of hopelessness, inevitability and resignation are palpable.

The men know they will die and the only thing they can hope for is to die well, for their country and without dishonour. It sounds bleak - as it should be - but I have never seen finer acting.