Musical celebrating Walter Tull’s life to take to the stage in Exeter

A critically acclaimed new musical telling the story of pioneering footballer and soldier Walter Tull is set to be performed in Exeter as part of a national UK tour.

Our Little Hour, commissioned by anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card, will be staged at the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February 2026. The production forms part of a wider campaign calling for justice for Walter Tull, widely recognised as Britain’s first Black British Army officer, who was recommended for the Military Cross during the First World War but never received the honour.

Described as “utterly compelling” and “an intensely moving new musical drama”, Our Little Hour charts the extraordinary life of Walter Tull. He broke barriers as the first Black footballer to play at the highest level of the domestic game in the UK before achieving another historic milestone in 1917, when he was commissioned as an officer in the British Army. His appointment came despite an official ruling made just three years earlier stating that all British Army officers should be of “pure European descent”.

Leon Newman, who plays Walter Tull in the production, said the musical goes beyond celebrating Tull’s achievements. He said: “While Our Little Hour is an artistic celebration of Walter Tull’s life, it is also part of an active mission to persuade the British Government to honour the award of the Military Cross for which Walter was recommended following his courage and leadership during a mission which took place on January 1st 1918 when he led a party of 26 men as part of a raid across the Piave River in Northern Italy.”

During the raid, Tull’s unit was tasked with shielding the rest of the battalion as they crossed multiple streams and advanced on enemy lines. The mission was a success, with Tull returning safely with all 26 men under his command. He subsequently received a citation for “gallantry and coolness” under fire from Major-General Sydney Lawford, commander of the 41st Division of the British Army. However, the Military Cross was never awarded, and Tull was killed in action just three months later in Northern France.

Playwright Dougie Blaxland, who places the Piave River raid at the heart of the drama, said: “The failure to honour Walter Tull with the award he so clearly deserved is made all the more disgraceful by the fact that he was killed just three months later fighting in Northern France.”

Director Amanda Horlock described the production as “a celebration of the life of an extraordinary man whose pioneering spirit continues to inspire the campaign for justice and equality. This production honours the memory of one of the most significant figures in British sporting and military history”.

The musical combines powerful drama with original music and continues the wider work of Show Racism the Red Card. Paul Kearns, director of operations at the charity, said the production “tells a really important story which will help to reinforce the work that we are doing to combat racism by engaging new audiences in a celebration of Walter Tull’s pioneering contribution to British society”.

More than 3,000 people have already backed the campaign to posthumously honour Walter Tull, but organisers say more support is needed. Dougie Blaxland said: “We have still have a long way to go to reach the 10,000 signatures needed for a formal response from the Government but we hope audiences will be moved to support us when they have heard the great man’s extraordinary story.”

Further information about Our Little Hour and the Exeter performances at the Barnfield Theatre on 17 and 18 February can be found via the Exeter Northcott Theatre website. Details of the wider campaign to honour Walter Tull are available online through the campaign’s petition page.