Occupation

Occupation, written by award-winning writer Peter Bowker (Capital, Marvellous), follows the intertwined lives of three British soldiers from the 2003 invasion of Iraq through to the present day. Their journeys reveal how personal dreams of wealth, love, and idealism come to define not only their own destinies but also the wider story of the war, one marked by lost lives, squandered billions, and rampant corporate greed.

After taking part in the invasion, Danny, Mike, and Hibbs each feel compelled to return to Basra. Danny is driven by the lure of money, Mike by love, and Hibbs by his conviction in the mission to rebuild Iraq. In 2004, with $9 billion pledged for reconstruction, they enter a chaotic world where inexperienced private contractors are encouraged to bid for lucrative security and development projects. Against a backdrop of rising extremism in Basra, the men’s lives are inexorably shaped by betrayal, disillusionment, and the broken promises of those in power.