Director tells FLICKY HARRISON how US marine drama is more relevant than ever

A maelstrom or perfect storm of politics and the war on terror is the explosively charged backdrop for a drama based around special ops for four US Marines

Pugilist Specialist is a gutsy play written by American playwright Adriano Shaplin. It will be performed in Swindon next week by the Whole Hog Theatre Company under the direction of Fenella Harrop.

It is a dream come true for Fenella as she has wanted to stage the play ever since she met Adriano when the drama was touring the UK twelve years ago.

Fenella said: “I was totally blown away by it. I was lucky enough to chat to him about the play and its incredible success. He not only wrote the play but directed it and acted in it as well. A hugely talented and fascinating man. I've wanted to stage the play ever since.''

The story is a gritty representation of a covert operation where the four Marines are assigned the task of eliminating a Middle-Eastern leader.

The dialogue is raw and darkly humorous but leaves you with a punch in the guts as the three men and one woman spar with one another through meetings, briefings and travel, before the chilling climax.

Fenella said: "There's something about the way the world is today that made me realise that this was the perfect time to perform this play. It was written as a comment on the American view of the world and its military's response to 9/11. But with ISIS, Trump and the situation in Syria going on today, the play is as relevant if not more so than when it was first written in 2003.”

The stars of the drama are Molly Campbell as Lieutenant Stein the explosives expert, Ashley Robson as Colonel Johns, Ross Scott at Lt Freud and Liam Wyatt as Lt Studdard.

The lighting and sound for this production are by Dominic Bray and Sean Hodgson is assistant director.

Whole Hog Productions was launched in 2008 and the company has scooped numerous awards including Winners of the All England Theatre Festival Mercia Division Quarter Final & the Western Area Semi-Final.

Pugilist Specialist begins its tour on Wednesday March 1 at the Phoenix Theatre, New College, Swindon until Friday March 3, from March ?6th - 11th it runs at Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol and then back to Swindon on April 6 in the Shoebox Theatre, as part of the Swindon Fringe Festival.

Tickets are £10 and £8 concession from 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison