I Wish To Die Singing
by Neil McPherson
On the night of Saturday, April 24th 1915, the Armenians of Constantinople were snoring in a calm sleep – exhausted from their Easter celebrations – while in the Central Police Station a secret project was in motion...
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The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century, perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government against the Armenians, a Christian minority in a Muslim state. One and a half million people died.
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To this day, the Turkish government refuses to admit that any genocide ever took place.
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Commemorating the exact centenary of the deportations that began the Armenian Genocide, I Wish To Die Singing – Voices From The Armenian Genocide is a controversial documentary drama uncovering the forgotten secrets and atrocities of a denied genocide – featuring eye-witness reportage, images, music, poetry from Armenia's greatest poets, and verbatim survivors testimonies from one of the greatest historical injustices of all time.
Cast
Production Team
Writer Neil McPherson
Director Tommo Fowler
Designer Philip Lindley
Lighting & Projection Designer Rob Mills
Sound Designer Max Pappenheim
Costume Designer Ele Slade
Movement Director Ita O'Brien
Assistant Director Sasha McMurray
Stage Manager Verena Prandstaetter
Assistant Stage Manager Simi Majekodunmi
Producer Rachel Kraftman
April – May 2015
Finborough Theatre
SEHER
FETHIYE
SOUREN
GAYANÉ
HERANUS
BALAKIAN
SHUKRI
Press
★★★★
SIMPLE, MOVING & VERY POWERFUL
Tommo Fowler’s strong and often uncomfortable production features a multiracial and inclusive cast, who all work hard, playing multiple roles
SEARING
McPherson’s play, soberly directed by Tommo Fowler and well acted by a seven-strong cast . . . movingly achieves what it sets out to do.
SHOCKING & TIMELY
Director Tommo Fowler steers his dedicated cast through a chilling 90 minutes
This is GRIPPING THEATRE
not just because it is telling a powerful story but because McPherson makes these people share with us and Tommo Fowler’s direction puts that contact at the heart of his production
Photography © Scott Rylander