The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton held a special presentation of Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen's new work, Vimy, for an audience of soldiers from the past and present.

About 500 veterans, military personnel and young cadets were invited to watch the play on Saturday night, on the eve of Remembrance Day. 

The play focuses on four injured soldiers who participated in the landmark First World War battle and the nurse who clings to the memory of her sweetheart who died on the battlefield where more than 3,500 Canadians died.

Vimy, which had its premiere on Oct. 20, was staged to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the epic Battle of Vimy Ridge near Arras, France, in April 1917.

Thiessen based his characters on the 20 to 40 men he had done research on. They represent different parts of Canada and the various cultural groups that were involved in the war.

Len Worrell, who was an airplane mechanic during the Second World War, applauded the efforts of the Winnipeg playwright to bring the reality of war to the young.

"A lot of them read about it in a history book and it's like reading the [Harry] Potter series," said the 80-year-old. "If they attend something like we saw today … they see all these veterans … and it brings in their minds the horrors of a war."

Cpl. Benoit Sorel of the Lord Strathcona's Horse, an Edmonton-based regiment, agreed with Worrell.

"It gives a good idea to the youngsters what Vimy was like … and all deployments our soldiers have been on so far," said Sorel, who just returned from a stint in Afghanistan.

"People are moving.… There's a lot of noise. They get an appreciation when they get in to the play."

Audience reacts to darker moments

Audience members were heard audibly sighing and sniffling during the play's darker moments.

Veterans said they felt a bond with other soldiers in the audience.

"You feel camaraderie with the other people around you because in some way or another they've experienced things that you have and probably things that you haven't," said Worrell, who served in the British fleet.

He said the play stirred up some painful memories but mostly, he said he tries to forget the worst of the war.

"You're in there to do a job and try to make it as pleasant as you can. The bad stuff was put on one side. You didn't dwell on it. You'd rather remember the guy who fell off the beer stool than the one who fell off the wing of an airplane."

The play has its last performance Nov. 11.

With files from the Canadian Press