About the show
FRANCE. 1945.
Private Eddie Slovik’s life hangs in the balance. Senior officers determine his fate: execute him for desertion or send him back to the front line. As war rages across Europe, in a dark corner of France, a different battle unfolds - one of conscience, duty, and morality. With time running out, they must decide: will they follow their orders, or will they defy the chain of command?
A play about war, justice, and the cost of obedience.
This play is inspired by true events surrounding the trial and execution of Private Eddie Slovik, the only American soldier executed for desertion during World War II. While the core of the story remains grounded in historical fact, certain characters, scenarios, and dialogue have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes. The play does not claim to be a verbatim account but rather an exploration of the moral, ethical, and emotional conflicts those involved faced. It is a work of speculation based on documented history, intended to provoke thought and discussion rather than serve as a definitive historical record.
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR THE EXECUTION OF PRIVATE SLOVIK
At the Wirral Theatre Festival (2025)
JOSH ENNIS as CPT. WOODS
LEW FREEBURN as CPT. GREEN
LUKE SEDDON as GEN. COTA
JOSEPH WINDER as COL. SOMMER
JORDAN BARKLEY as PVT. WILLIAMS
JAMES DORMAN as FR. CUMMINGS
At the Liverpool Arts Bar (2025)
JOSH ENNIS as CPT. WOODS
SEAN RADFORD as CPT. GREEN
LUKE SEDDON as GEN. COTA
JOSEPH WINDER as COL. SOMMER
JORDAN BARKLEY as PVT. WILLIAMS
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ALEX KING
PRODUCED BY OLD FRUIT JAR PRODUCTIONS