Photo Flash: First Look at Tarragon Theatre's THIS IS WAR, Opening Jan 3

Rehearsals started this week for Tarragon Theatre's world premiere of This is War, written by acclaimed Tarragon playwright-in-residence Hannah Moscovitch and directed by Artistic Director Richard Rose. This is War opens January 3 and runs to February 3, 2013 in Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space (with previews from December 28). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

It is 2008. Canadian Forces are holding Panjwaii, the most volatile region of Afghanistan, with very little support from NATO-ISAF. Captain Stephen Hughes is always looking for the next threat, knowing it can come at any time from any direction. Four different perspectives emerge as three soldiers and a medic are interviewed by an unseen journalist about a critical event.

Lisa Berry (CanStage/Obsidian Theatre's Intimate Apparel, Shaw Festival's The Crucible) as Master Corporal Tanya Young, Ari Cohen (Tarragon's The Little Years, Soulpepper's Death of a Salesman-Dora nomination) as Captain Stephen Hughes, Sergio Di Zio (Tarragon's Scorched, Leo; CTV's Flashpoint) as medic Sergeant Chris Anders and Ian Lake (Stratford Festival's Elektra, Cymbeline and more) as Private Jonny Henderson star in this fictionalized version of a real incident taken from the pages of the controversial Afghanistan conflict and Canada's role in it.

Hannah Moscovitch is the country's most produced young playwright. Moscovitch has risen to national prominence in the last few years. She has won multiple Dora Mavor Moore Awards and been nominated for the Governor General's Award and the international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, among others. Tarragon previously mounted her plays East of Berlin and The Children's Republic, and will present a mini-festival of her work beginning in February with Little One, Other People's Children and In This World. Other plays include The Huron Bride and The Russian Play. She has been produced across Canada including Factory Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Great Canadian Theatre Company and at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, among others and is currently writing plays for some of North America's most exciting established and experimental theatre companies including the Stratford Festival and the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York.

Originally commissioned by the Banff Centre for its 75th anniversary celebration where it was workshopped in 2008, This is War tours to Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange for a production in association with Tarragon from February 20-March 10.

Directed by Richard Rose and starring Lisa Berry, Ari Cohen, Sergio Di Zio, Ian Lake, the show features Set and Costume Design by Camellia Koo, Lighting Design by Rebecca Picherack, Composer and Sound Designer Thomas Ryder Payne and Stage Manager Nicola Benidickson.

Tickets range from $27-$53 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling the box office at 416.531.1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.

Tarragon Theatre is known for its creation, development and production of new Canadian work. Now in its 42nd season, more than 190 plays by this country's most pre-eminent writers have premiered at Tarragon. Tarragon presents new plays from all parts of the country, revives significant Canadian plays and produces international work, contemporary and classical. Tarragon is also a pioneer in presenting Quebecois plays in translation. The theatre offers extensive play development programs in a concerted effort to develop the next generation of playwrights and an active outreach and education department. Tarragon received the 2012 Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts in recognition of producing and developing leading edge and thought-provoking Canadian Theatre, both nationally and on the world stage. Richard Rose is the Artistic Director.

Photo Credit: Cylla von Tiedemann

Ari Cohen, Lisa Berry

Lisa Berry, Ari Cohen

Lisa Berry, Sergio Di Zio, Ari Cohen

Sergio Di Zio, Lisa Berry

Ian Lake, Lisa Berry

Ian Lake, Lisa Berry

Lisa Berry, Ian Lake

Ari Cohen, Lisa Berry, Ian Lake, Sergio Di Zio

Ari Cohen, Lisa Berry, Ian Lake