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SOLDIERING ON<br />
but there is now recognition of the possibilities.<br />
In 2017 an all party inquiry co chaired by<br />
Lord Howarth and Ed Vaisey concluded that<br />
the arts can help recovery from illness and<br />
keep people well. Lord Howarth said “<strong>The</strong> arts<br />
can help people take responsibility for their<br />
own health and wellbeing in ways that will be<br />
crucial to the health of the nation.”<br />
Playing the role of Woody, Cassidy Little<br />
@Bears_eat_oats, was a dancer before he<br />
joined the Royal Marines, where he lost his left<br />
leg to an IED in Afghanistan on his second<br />
tour of duty. Prior to the initial run of Soldier<br />
On he had gone on to perform in both tours of<br />
the multiple-award nominated <strong>The</strong> Two Worlds<br />
of Charlie F by Owen Sheers, won the<br />
People’s Strictly for Comic relief, has worked<br />
in film and has his own show ‘Rated’ on BFBS.<br />
He says, ‘Had it not been for acting, dancing<br />
and performing then I have no idea where my<br />
life would be”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> impact for<br />
those on stage<br />
and behind<br />
the stage is<br />
also mirrored<br />
by the<br />
changes that<br />
take place in<br />
audience<br />
members,<br />
whether serving<br />
and veteran<br />
personnel<br />
and their families<br />
or members<br />
of the<br />
wider community.<br />
One audience member<br />
said, ‘ it helps to put you in<br />
touch with emotions that are<br />
sometimes difficult to face’<br />
and another said ‘Acting is<br />
somewhere you can pretend<br />
to be someone else but actually<br />
be yourself without being<br />
judged’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> military charities have<br />
done a superb job of making<br />
everyone aware of the issues<br />
faced by veterans and serving<br />
personnel. Events like the<br />
Invictus games have provided<br />
a brilliant focus for sport but<br />
this is not for everyone. It's the<br />
turn of those involved in the<br />
arts now. This is the first time<br />
that veterans have performed<br />
a major run of a play about<br />
their experiences in the West<br />
End. Writer Lewis feels passionate<br />
about the subject matter. ‘Soldier On<br />
celebrates the power of Story in the healing<br />
process. Soldier On is here to say ‘You are not<br />
alone.’’<br />
Tickets are available from the Other Palace<br />
website<br />
https://www.theotherpalace.co.uk/whatson/soldier-on<br />
or by phoning their booking line 0207 087<br />
7900. <strong>The</strong>re is £10 off every ticket band for<br />
serving and veteran military personnel and<br />
their families and members of the emergency<br />
services by using the code SOLDIERONFAM.<br />
Find us:<br />
Twitter:<br />
@soldieronstage<br />
@soldiersArtsA<br />
Website:<br />
Soldierontheplay.com
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