Yasmin Sidhwa of Pegasus Theatre reports that young people do care about war — and they like to have their voices heard

What do young people in the UK feel about war? Would they sign up to fight for their country? What would they die for? What do they feel about losing people they love?

These are all questions I have been lucky enough to witness being tackled by an amazing group of young people confronting the ideas full on, with honesty, emotion and insight. The young people in question are a diverse group aged 15 to 17 in the Pegasus Youth Theatre Company. Add in to the mix a world renowned author and playwright, Andy Mulligan, and myself, a professional actor and Creative Learning Director at Pegasus Theatre. Together we have created a new play Warzone. Andy has been generous with his time and creativity, inviting the young people and myself to shape, improvise, devise and role play many of the scenes that are now written in to this vibrant, emotional, funny and surreal play.

Every week since September, through holidays and weekends, the 14 young people have met to rehearse at Pegasus in East Oxford. They come from almost every city secondary school, from very different walks of life, united by a passion for theatre and creativity and having their voices heard.

We are nearly ready to perform to a variety of audiences: a local schools’ tour, where the company will perform and run workshops with younger pupils; a five-day run for the general public at Pegasus Theatre on an inspiring set by theatre designer Nomi Everall and costume designer Natasha Godwin; finally on tour at the renowned International Theatre Festival — Rencontre in Grenoble, France.

Without a doubt these young people do care about war. Many of them cannot understand how anyone could take another’s life, for whatever reason. However, they can see why young men and women signed up to fight, if they felt they were fighting to save their family, community or country. The cast have explored the reality of life for the young soldiers and nurses in the First World War, their courage, the impossible situations they dealt with and the real love and loss that permeated their lives. They have seen what they share in common, and even though their experiences are worlds apart, they are no different.

I cannot wait for you to join me to witness inspirat-ional theatre and dance, in this Pegasus double bill that has ignited young people to express their humanity.

* Warzone by Andy Mulligan is part of a double bill with the Power Within, by nine young women from Pegasus Youth Dance Company at Pegasus Theatre, with professional dancer and choreographer, Allan Hutson.

* It runs at the Pegasus Theatre until Saturday, at 7.30pm each evening, plus a matinée on Saturday at 1.30pm.

* International Youth Theatre Festival, Grenoble, France – July 3-12.