Winner of the 1996 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama

A searing exploration of the nature of forgiveness and a profound classic that examines the paradox of the soldier today, and the ambiguities of morality and justice.

Stetko is the model boy next door and the son of middle-class parents, but when war arrives it forever changes his life. Although he does nothing more than follow his commanding officer’s orders, when the war is over he stands accused of terrible crimes. A profoundly affecting two-person drama that reminds us of the faceless horror of war, and of the guilt which whole nations must carry on their shoulders. Wagner’s play goes to the heart of man’s inhumanity in war time.

Colleen Wagner was born in Alberta and studied at the Ontario College of Art and at the University of Toronto. Her writing includes screenplays, stage plays, poetry, and short fiction. Her first play, Sand, was shortlisted for best international play at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England. Other plays include Governor General’s Literary Award winner The Monument, which has been translated into a dozen languages and continues to be produced internationally; The Morning Bird (published by Scirocco Drama and nominated for a MECCA award for best new play); down from heaven; and Home (published by Scirocco Drama). Her recent documentary play The Living, based on stories of survivors in post-conflict zones, premiered at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in 2015 and won the NOW Audience Choice award. She co-founded and was co-artistic director of The NotaBle Acts Theatre Company, in Fredericton, NB, from 2002 to 2007 and divides her time between a riverside farm in New Brunswick and downtown Toronto. She teaches at York University. Visit www.colleenwagner.ca for more information.