WHAT is bravery? Is it shown facing the enemy guns, or turning your face against the world to seek justice for a belief?

Mark Hayhurst’s new play First Light which opened at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre last week, pulls no punches on the horrors of war and its effects both in the trenches and on the home front.

But at its heart it is about two battles: a son fighting for his father to be proud, and a father fighting for the truth of his child’s ultimate human failings to be told.

Timely set during the battles of The Somme, the 100th anniversary of whose horror is marked on July 1 this year, Hayhurst explores the true story of Private Albert Ingham and Private Alfred Longshaw, both of the Manchester Pals, who after both acting with courage and valour in the opening stages of the Somme battles chose to desert rather than return to the front. 

Their doomed attempt at flight and its subsequent consequences are made known to the audience quite early in the drama with the focus on the family of Ingham – Bert – as they learn of his death and, slowly, its manner.

The tremendous Phil Davis plays Bert’s father George who channels his grief at the loss of his precious son into a stubborn obstinacy to have the truth written in stone.

Amelda Brown is Bert’s mother, stricken but willing to move on; Kelly Price is his sister, caught between the desperation of her parents.

As the family struggle to find their own peace, the audience follows the manner of Bert’s tragedy and that of his pal Alfred.

Tom Gill in the role of Bert and David Moorst as Alfred are a tremendous pairing. Gill is wonderful as the open-hearted and rather wide-eyed Bert who travels from somewhat naïve pal to tower of strength as the pair’s escapade falls apart.

Moorst makes his own journey, from cocky lad to defeated innocent in fine style.

Mention must be made of Paul Wills simple yet truly effective set and Jonathan Munby’s brilliant direction. The scenery change scenes involving troops in combat are genius.

During the First World War the British Army executed over 360 men, the Germans, by comparison, only 40. 

Mark Hayhurst’s telling here of two young men’s fate is gut-wrenchingly poignant.

Runs until July 2