SOLDIERS OF TOMORROW at Finborough Theatre 10 June – 4 July 2026

‘Credit to the Finborough Theatre for staging Soldiers of Tomorrow, which is essential viewing at this time.’  ★★★★   

Although a great deal is written about the current conflict(s) in the middle-east, it is rare in the UK, especially on the London stage, to hear from those directly involved. This one-man play, written (with Colleen Murphy) and performed by Itai Erdal, an Israeli writer who has lived in Canada for decades, but like so many Israelis did his national service with the Israeli Defence Force (in the 1990s).

Erdal is a charismatic and engaging performer, and is joined onstage by musician Emad Armoush, who provides a live soundtrack. He intersperses his own family history (his parents emigrated from Turkey to Israel in the 1960s) with the history of the region. Although originally written three years ago, the references are up-to-date, with Erdal emphasising the events of October 7 can’t be understood without knowing the longer history of the region back to 1948 and before, which is needed to truly comprehend the full extent of the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people.

The main narrative of the play centres around his national service and his regret and shame over this period, and more generally how military service is ingrained in Israeli society. Erdal also speaks about a more hopeful time for change among leftist Israeli citizens such as himself that ended with the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. The play is naturally sombre whilst never losing hope. Armoush’s playing of the Oud, which is never intrusive, enhances the storytelling. The set (designed by Brian Ball with art by Juliette Demoulin), hinting at military fatigues with toy soldiers as props, is used well to convey the complex and challenging stories.

A key part of the play is the after-show discussion, which is offered every night. Erdal reflected how he didn’t learn about many of the events in 1948 (termed the Al-Nakba/“the catastrophe” among Palestinians) until the invention of Youtube, when he discovered things he was never taught in school. The production has been controversial and many theatres in different countries have refused to stage it. It has faced protests, on the one side for not being Zionist enough (from the right), and on the other for centring Israeli guilt at the expense of Palestinian voices (from the left). Erdal agrees with the latter point and emphasises the need for Palestinian voices to be heard on stage, and this feels vital and a challenge to UK Theatre. Credit to the Finborough Theatre for staging Soldiers of Tomorrow, which is essential viewing at this time.             

SOLDIERS OF TOMORROW written by Itai Erdal with Colleen Murphy.

Playing at the Finborough Theatre until July 4 2026 https://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/productions/soldiers-of-tomorrow

Performed by Itai Erdal

Crew

Music Composed and Performed by Emad Armoush

Directed by Anita Rochon

Set Design by Brian Ball

Scenic Art by Juliette Demoulin

Lighting Design by Alan Brodie

Presented by The Elbow Theatre in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre.

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts and British Columbia Arts Council

Production Photos by Matt Reznek