Deep Cut

Synopsis

"Don’t embellish. Don’t exaggerate. Tell the truth. Stick to it." 18 year old Private Cheryl James from Llangollen was one of four young soldiers who died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut Barracks between 1995 and 2002. Cheryl’s parents wanted answers from the people responsible for their daughter’s care. But how do you begin to grieve when no-one seems to have a proper explanation? What would give you the determination to continue asking awkward, demanding questions? Taken from original source material and powerful first hand testimonies, Deep Cut is a bold and compelling account of one family’s journey through a time they thought they’d never experience, to places they hoped they’d never be.

Our Review:

30 September 2009

The events surrounding the deaths of four young soldiers at the Deepcut Barracks is difficult source material indeed to fashion a play from and Philip Ralph and Mick Gordon deserve credit for what is obviously a painstaking endeavour to depict the sufferings of Cheryl James’ parents following her untimely death in 1995. Deep Cut is an angry and accomplished work that is only occasionally ineffective in instilling a proper sense of righteous indication in its audience.

In what is often a simply and efficiently told story, the two parents confront bland, dispassionate apathy and obstruction at every level of government. Both Pip Donaghy and Janice Cramer display a welcome lightness of touch in what could easily have been mawkish and overblown roles. They never seem to be in danger of letting the weighty subject matter get on top of them.

It is unfortunate therefore that the character of journalist Brian Cathcart often unbalances this delicate relationship. Ca...

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