Afternoon Play - On The Field: On Leave

Annie Caulfield's comedy drama returns with a third episode in the On The Field series. Mahmoud the barber has exchanged Basra for Istanbul where his old friend Sergeant - now Captain - Billy has ended up as Miltary Attache. After witnessing a traumatic attack on duty in Kabul, squaddies Kev and Damon opt for a bit of escapism. Damon fancies himself as a secret agent and is obsessed with James Bond. He persuades his mate to join him in visiting Istanbul's famous "From Russia With Love" film locations. First stop: Electra King's house. But they discover they're not cut out to follow in Bond's footsteps and Billy and Mahmoud have to pick up the pieces when an unofficial trip to the Basilica Cisterns goes spectacularly wrong. Billy tries to give the soldiers some worldly wisdom to take back to the front: survival skills more useful than anything they'd learn on the parade ground. By turns funny, exciting and poignant, the play gets under the skin of life as a soldier. Cast Mahmoud.....Paul Chahidi Billy.....Paul Mundell. Kev.....Carl Prekopp Damon.....Osi Okerafor Yusuf.....Sal Osbay Inspector Guler.....Hakan Silahsiz Director: Mary Ward Lowery.