Deepcut shootings drama
Feb 16 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
A NEW play tells the story of Private Geoff Gray, who was 17 when he was found at Deepcut barracks with two fatal bullet wounds to his head.
Deepcut is to be introduced to a Newcastle audience this month as a work in progress. And Geoff’s heartbroken parents Geoff Snr, 44, and Diane, 43, have collaborated with writer Fiona Evans to get their story heard.
It comes after an announcement last month that Deepcut was to close.
Geoff, who now lives in Hackney although he is from Seaham, County Durham, said: “We have worked quite closely with Fiona to ensure that the script is as accurate as possible.
“And it is very exciting that this is finally coming about as it’s getting our story into the heart of communities and people will see how Diane and I dealt with it.”
Geoff and Diane’s son joined the Army on his 17th birthday in January 2001. Nine months later he was dead and, since then, Geoff and Diane have been fighting to get a public inquiry, along with Yvonne Collinson, of Perth, whose son James, 17, was found dead from a gunshot wound to his head at the same barracks six months later. The families reject inquest verdicts that the deaths were the result of suicides.
The two soldiers were among four found shot dead at the barracks.
Yvonne said: “This play is very welcome as it is something that will keep our story in the news and in people’s minds. I think a lot of people think it has gone away and it hasn’t.
“Fiona is a very emotional person and she has felt the story as she has created this work, so she has approached it from a very personal, family-orientated angle.
“She shows the relationship between us and Geoff and Diane, which is great because I don’t think we would have got anywhere if it hadn’t been for each other. No one else understood what we were going through other than Geoff and Diane.”
Geoff said he hoped the hard-hitting medium of drama would help to bring about a public inquiry into the deaths of Geoff and James.
He said: “The story has been covered in the news extensively since 2002, and we have participated in various documentaries over the years. But this play will help to bring the issues to a new audience because drama can change people’s perceptions and highlight an issue in a different way.
“I think seeing ourselves, along with our son Adam, 16, relive those moments again on stage will be tear-jerking.”
Newcastle-based playwright Fiona, who is staging the production with New Writing North at Live Theatre explained that the initial event, on February 28, would not reflect the final work.
She said: “The presentation is open to the public but it will further develop the script. The audience won’t get a true sense of the whole play although there will be run-throughs with the cast.
“Both sets of parents have been so supportive. They have been absolutely fantastic. And I am hoping the production will help them achieve the public inquiry they are fighting for.”
Deepcut will be performed in the Studio Theatre at Live Theatre on February 28 at 8pm. For more information or to book tickets call the theatre on (0191) 232-1232.
