Shellshocked at the Lawrence Batley Theatre

This June, the Lawrence Batley Theatre present Shellshocked, a powerful new play from the award-winning Leeds-based playwright Philip Stokes examining the impact of the horrors of war on the mind of a young soldier. The show is tipped for success at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so this is a great opportunity to preview this thrilling new work by a Northern artist before it heads to the Fringe.

When a returning war hero answers a job advert posted by the mysterious Mr Lupine, he has no idea that the madness he will encounter may push him to destruction.

Wesley needs a job. He’s been fighting abroad and has to support his mother and sisters now that his dad has gone. He’s a local hero that everyone loves but the horrors of World War II have broken him and he’s finding it hard to calm his mind. So when he sees an apprenticeship with a renowned local artist – it’s just the ticket…until he discovers the sinister ulterior motives behind the artist’s pallet.

Described as “an edge of your seat” show and “Inside No 9-esque”, this gripping new thriller has been written and directed by Philip Stokes, who has been named “ a culturally important playwright of the 21st Century” by The British Library. The production’s creative team has also had previous successes with hit show Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me and Edinburgh Fringe 2023 sell-out show LASH.

Starring Jack Stokes (winner of Theatre Weekly’s 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Best Solo Performance), the performance also features a haunting original musical score by Brian Morrell. Boasting a cracking team of cast and creatives, Shellshocked looks to be an explosive performance at Edinburgh Fringe 2024. Catch it first when it previews at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.