The Last Post

Towards the close of WW2, army signaller Dennis Marshall wrote a series of moving letters to his fiancée, Barbara Goad, tracing his journey and his experiences. Dennis’ grandson, trumpeter Tom Poulson will explore these letters in an extraordinary immersive performance, with music reflecting the technology and sounds of the era. Inspired by the Last Post bugle call, the work is a very personal exploration of war and memory designed to be performed in intimate settings, where audiences can experience the letters together.

“The discovery of over 100 letters written by my grandfather not only gave a fantastic insight into my own family history but proved the perfect starting point for The Last Post. While deeply personal, the letter’s themes are also universal, not only to soldiers in WW2 but to anyone involved in conflict, and we reflect upon this in the work.” Tom Poulson

Directed by Susan Worsfold (The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven; Eve for NTS; The Attic Collective), trumpeter Tom Poulson (Stockholm Chamber Brass, WorldBrass) will perform a contemporary score, accompanied by live electronics from composer Alistair MacDonald (previous works include electroacoustic, improvisation and dance projects).