Once on Chunuk Bair
A rarely performed classic of heroism and heartbreak.
Overview
Auckland Theatre Company is breathing new life into the rarely performed classic Once on Chunuk Bair. The story, by playwright Maurice Shadbolt, recreates a tragic episode of World War I and a defining moment in the development of a New Zealand identity.
It is August 8 in 1915. The Wellington Regiment, which is part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, commences an offensive just before dawn to seize Chunuk Bair, a pivotal peak overlooking Gallipoli Bay. As incompetent British generals look on from their battleships, the regiment captures the high ground.
But their success is only fleeting as the Turks launch a massive counter-attack. With extraordinary courage, the young Wellingtonians fight back, firing their own rifles and those of their fallen companions. Of the 760 men who reached the summit, 711 became casualties. A tale of heroism and heartbreak, Once on Chunuk Bair is a searing tribute to the sacrifices made by a generation of Kiwi men. Lest we forget.
Information
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