Falkland Sound

One of the Top Five Plays in London – British Theatre Guide

“Tinker is the nearest we are likely to get to a Falklands Wilfred Owen and for that we should be deeply grateful.” Andrew Wilson, The Observer

“One of the most moving aspects of a petty wretched war…reading his letters made me weep with despair.” Anthony Clare, The Listener

On April 10th 1982, 25 year old Lieutenant David Tinker RN wrote to his wife from HMS Glamorgan, steaming towards the Falkland Islands as part of the Task Force…

“Here we are in 1982, fighting a colonial war on the other side of the world: 28,000 men going to fight over a fairly dreadful piece of land inhabited by 1800 people…. The ideal is most praiseworthy; the wishes of a tiny people supported by the might of a large state. Everything else is quite ludicrous.”

He was killed in action a month later.

“David Tinker, Lieutenant, aged 25…Committed to the ocean deep in position 51 50′ 50″ South, 53 31′ 80″ West. 160 miles East of Falkland Islands: on the evening of 12th June.”

Falkland Sound tells the life story of David Tinker from his letters and poems. His moving story is told by his father, Hugh, whose simple narration guides us through David’s life as he attempts to make sense of his son’s sacrifice. In this 20th anniversary year of the Falklands War, Falkland Sound presents one of the only views of the Falklands War written as the battle was raging.

Based on the book A Message from the Falklands: the Life and Gallant Death of David Tinker, Falkland Sound originally formed the first part of Falkland Sound/Voces de Malvinas which opened at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London, in June 1983 and – after a national tour – was revived in the main theatre in December 1983 with a new cast. The original production was directed by Max Stafford-Clark and featured Paul Jesson and Julian Wadham. We now present its first revival.