New Play Explores Struggles Faced By Wives Of Commonwealth Soldiers

A new play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is highlighting the difficulties faced by the wives of Commonwealth soldiers in the British Army.

'In-Valid Voices' by playwright Helen-Marie O’Malley explores the complexities of being a soldier from a Commonwealth country, weaving in issues surrounding identity, racism and the rising cost of visas.

Ms O'Malley told Forces News: 

"So many people that you speak to have no idea that there are Commonwealth soldiers in the British Army and that their families are here living in our communities."

Based on interviews with three Army wives in Edinburgh, the show hopes to raise awareness that many Commonwealth soldiers struggle to bring their families with them to Britain when they join up.

"Their kids are living in our schools, it’s just an awareness of the fact that they’re here, why they’re here," O'Malley adds.

"And the costs … and the implications of the costs and the visas and how that works."

The play aims to highlight the tensions and anguish suffered by wives when their loved ones are deployed overseas.

“If your soldier’s gone to war and your partner is at home, then this tackles some of the struggles that you go through,” she concludes.

In-Valid Voices runs until August 25.