Outward Bound

Sutton Vane (1888–1963) was a British actor and playwright. He started his career as an actor until the outbreak of the First World War. He joined up in 1914 at the age of 26 and served until he was invalided out due to shell-shock. Vane was haunted by his war experiences, and once he sufficiently recovered, he returned to the combat area as a civilian, appearing for the entertainment of troops near the front lines during the latter half of the war. After the Armistice, Vane turned to writing plays, and authored two conventional works that caused little stir. Outward Bound was his third play and the work for which he is now remembered.

“Justifies revival… Vane is clearly saying something about a 1920s England riddled with social injustice and spiritual ennui” – The Guardian“Retains an uncanny compulsion” – The Times“They really don’t make `em like this anymore…entertaining, grippingly paced, economically written, with big characters” – Time Out