Mettle

In 1993, Nicholas Collett's father finally began to speak about his experiences serving on the Atlantic Convoys during the Second World War. For decades, he had remained largely silent about the dangers he faced aboard HMS Vanessa.

Following his father's death, Nicholas uncovered service records that revealed an extraordinary story of courage, sacrifice and survival, prompting him to look again at the man he thought he knew.

Blending personal testimony, historical research, evocative soundscapes and music of the 1940s, Mettle is a moving and deeply human solo play about war, memory and the enduring bond between father and son.

Directed by Gavin Robertson, this powerful production commemorates those who served, those who were lost, and those who lived to tell their story.