A playwright who first went to the theatre just three-years ago has written a play about the war in Afghanistan.
Kevin Lee’s Time for Heroes is currently showing at Barons Court Theatre and bringing in audiences from all over London who are keen to see a play embracing such a current and controversial subject.
The 29-year-old’s play looks at the legacy of the war in Afghanistan and the impact it has had on families left behind by those in the armed forces who have been killed.
“I thought the subject was really important,” he said. “I’m really interested in the topic and there’s lots of debate about the war in Afghanistan. Lots more questions are now being raised and that’s what this play does.
“My generation has been affected by this war for the past 13 years so I believe it will appeal to most people, it’s something we’ve grown up with and should question. We’ve had lots of interest from ex-soldiers which shows how relevant it is, and British troops have just pulled out of Afghanistan so it’s even more relevant.
“Lots of people don’t know what the truth is about the Afghan war and the majority of people are led to believe something but we have to dig deeper. I really hope people will go home after the show and have something to think about. It presents the audience with many different sides to think about so it’s educational as well.”
The former football coach and customer services worker brings some raw talent to the industry as he only put his first play, Girlfriend, on in 2013, also at Barons Court. Since then he’s had a number of plays shown across London and it’s hard to believe he didn’t grow up in the theatre.
“I only went to the theatre for the first time just over three years ago," he told getwestlondon. "We never went when I was a kid and I decided I wanted to embrace London’s culture - I was hooked straight away.
“I then started writing a play and didn’t tell anybody about it until I’d finished it and then it became a reality. I never went to university so I threw myself into plays.”
Working with Baron’s Court again has been a real help as he said as they are very helpful and supportive of him.
Time for Heroes opened on Tuesday and runs until February 28 at the Barons Court Theatre in the Curtain’s Up pub in Comeragh Road. Tickets, £12, are available from offwestend.com
