Two character names are taken from Shakespearean plays - Ewan Clarence from the Duke of Clarence, a character in "Henry VI, Part 3" and "Richard III", and Tony Suffolk from the Duke of Suffolk in "Henry VI, parts 1and 2".
Title is from Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2, in which Hamlet says: "The play's the thing // Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."
Suffolk's medals are the General Service Medal, the NATO Medial - Former Yugoslavia, the Operational Service Medal - Afghanistan, the Iraq Medal and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
The "Warwickshire Guards" and "The Royal Pistols" are fictitious regiments.