Studio 100, the leading global family entertainment company, is pleased to announce the premiere on 20th April of their spectacular new musical ‘14-18’. This ground breaking production aims is to communicate the turbulent background of World War One to a modern audience in a new and totally innovative way. This is an authentic, never-seen-before theatre experience, and totally unique in Europe!

Performed in a specially adapted venue in Belgium with a capacity of nearly 2000, ‘14-18’ fully immerses the audience in the action giving them an insight into the all-consuming, devastating affects a war of this magnitude can have on the lives of everyday people. This awe inspiring production has a huge 150 metre stage and is staged in a venue that spans an area as big as two football fields. It’s unique and ground breaking seating design allows the audience to be propelled 150 metres forwards and backwards. The audience are thus able to view from a distance the magnitude and violence of war during battle whilst being brought very close during the more touching and romantic scenes.

Aimed at an international audience, ’14-18’ premiers on April 20th in the Nekkerhal in Mechelen, Belgium and an unprecedented 100,000 tickets have been sold to date. The play is performed in Dutch; however there will be some English speaking performances, with an English cast, from May 22nd, which are set to attract theatre fans, historians, war commentators, ex patriots based in Belgium and teachers and students from the UK.

‘14-18’ is a collaboration between Studio 100, Laurence Olivier award winning writer and director Frank Van Laecke, Dirk Brossé and Allard Blom. Dirk Brosse was nominated for a prestigious Emmy Award for BBC series ‘Parade’s End’ and is also the Music Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Frank Van Laecke had previously collaborated with Emmy winner Allard Blom and Dirk Brosse on the hit musical ‘Daens’ and the trio were thrilled with the concept and challenge of ‘14-18’;

‘We knew we would be able to reach a large audience, it is a powerful story of romance and unconditional friendship set against a backdrop of horror and war.’

Tickets start from €44.95 and can be purchased from www.sherpa.be
For more information visit www.1418.nu