Mettle: A new Play to commemorate those who served on the Atlantic Convoys

November 1942

HMS Vanessa is detached from Convoy HX213 to join Convoy SC107.

The convoy is attacked by a wolfpack of U-boats - over 4 days they sink 15 ships.

It is the heaviest loss of ships from any trans-Atlantic convoy through the winter of 1942-43.

Gordon Collett is 19, from Sheffield - the city of steel. Determined to join the fight against the advancing forces of fascism, he volunteers for the Royal Navy in Ferbuary 1940. He serves on HMS Vanessa and in November 1942 they are sent to escort Convoy SC107.

I know this because I am his son - and I'm going to tell you his story.

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METTLE is a true story.

It is a celebration and commemoration of a man and those who served with him on one of the most infamous Atlantic convoys of World War Two.

It is also an observation of a past generation who, although quietly wrestling with their demons, remained silent about their service for many years. This solo piece is inspired by conversations with (and revelations from) my father late in his life.

From his childhood in Sheffield in the 1960’s, through to the present day, award-winning solo performer Nicholas Collett (“Spitfire Solo”, “Nelson – The Sailor’s Story”, “Your Bard”) takes us on an epic journey, retracing his father’s steps, from Liverpool to the USA and back, via Sierra Leone and Nova Scotia, reliving the utter terror of U-boat attacks, the storm-tossed ocean, along with the lighter moments of serving aboard a wartime destroyer – including a (fairly) close encounter with Glenn Miller – in a captivating and physical solo performance.

A tale of love and loss, both moving and funny, above all life-affirming - and a paean to those we miss most.

In association with the Daparian Foundation.

Written and Performed by Nicholas Collett
Born and bred in Sheffield. Graduated from the University of Birmingham and then trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
As an actor his work includes the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican, Bombur in “The Hobbit” in London’s West End and over 40 productions in regional repertory. In 2016 he won the British Arrows Craft Award for Best Performance by an Actor for the Currys tv commercial “Laptop” with Jeff Goldblum. He won a Special Performance Award at the 2018 World Duo Festival in Seoul, South Korea, for his role as Counsellor in “The Black and White Tea Room”. In 2022 he won Best Supporting Actor from Dark Chat Awards for his role as Yorick in “Waiting For Hamlet” and in 2023 Best Theatre award at Adelaide Fringe for his role as Jo in “Appraisal”.
He is an award-winning solo-performer and his works “Spitfire Solo”, “Nelson, The Sailors’ Story” and “Your Bard - an evening in the pub with Will Shakespeare” have been seen in the UK, the USA and Australia.
He was the co-founder of Third Party who toured between 1994 ans 2014, producing Shakespeare and other classics, giving over 1000 performances across the whole of the UK and in the Lebanon, Germany, Ireland and France.
Directing credits include “Crazy Horse – A Dream Of Thunder” starring Sam Wright, winning Best Solo Show at Kansas City Fringe and “That Daring Australian Girl” starring Joanne Hartstone, winning Best Theatre at Adelaide Fringe in 2018. In 2022 he co-wrote and directed the folk musical “Prejudice and Pride”, which won Best Show at Edinburgh Fringe from the Sinners Review before going on to play off-Broadway at 59E59 in 2023.

Directed by Gavin Robertson

Gavin comes from a physical theatre background (Lecoq, Gaulier, Lindsay Kemp,) creating original works for national & international touring. He has produced a diverse portfolio of productions including Spittoon, The Three Musketeers, The Six-Sided Man, Fantastical Voyage (via Ray Harryhausen), Escape From The Planet of The Day That Time Forgot!, Mata Hari Female Spy and many others, infamously, Thunderbirds F.A.B. (via Gerry Anderson) which played in London's West End on six separate occasions, plus international tours, as well as the first-ever stage production of Day Of The Triffids. Many of his productions have toured internationally including several tours to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Brazil, Singapore as well as Hong Kong, Lebanon, Turkey, Oman, and various European countries. Notably he played ‘Juror 12’ in the award-winning production of ‘12 Angry Men’, with Bill Bailey and a host of comedians including Lucy Porter, Stephen K Amos & Phil Nicol, which also toured to Australia and New Zealand. He played London’s West End with Hollywood actor Christian Slater, as ‘Frank Scanlon’ in two seasons of ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’, and the national tour with Shane Richie. He is a former Drama Advisor to the Arts Council of England.

Doors/Bar: 7pm | Show start 8pm

Please note that this show might not be suitable for children.

Host or Publisher St James