Private Peaceful Day was held in support of the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI in 2014.

 

Michael Morpurgo's moving and seminal book is also a film, a one man play and a schools play, a radio play and an a capella concert with Michael Morpurgo featuring Coope, Boyes & Simpson. During 2014 audiences will be able to see and hear and read Private Peaceful; Michael's requiem for the 306 men shot for cowardice and other misdemeanours during the war.

 

8,000 school children and their teachers saw the film re-launched on 31 March 2014 in Picturehouse, Cineworld & independent cinemas across the UK. Actor George Mackay (who played Tommo) introduced the film.

 

The screening was followed by a fascinating Q&A with Michael Morpurgo compered by Channel 4 News' Cathy Newman, beamed live by satellite to the participating cinemas.

 

Simon Reade's remarkable one man show is also on tour.

 

We are partnering with the National Literacy Trust, Cityread London and HarperCollins as well as local authorities and state and private schools.

 

Private Peaceful Day coincided with the book being part of Cityread London. Every April, Cityread unites Londoners by inviting them to pick up the same book, and start reading together.

 

The initial cinema re-launch will then be followed by a special cross-curricula schools pack written by the NLT (with HarperCollins) that will go to all 28,000 schools in the UK.