Sward! - The Story of a Meadow
Sward!  is a magical, time travelling tale; a love story, with roots in ancient myth, oral records and modern science. Through its telling, the complex web of life and history woven into the very fabric, (the sward) of an upland hay meadow is revealed, along with its extremely fragile nature. Young farmer Jason Drysdale is out on his quad bike, spraying thistles, when he spots botany student, Jemima Foxley, mysteriously, fate then intervenes to take them both on a fabulous journey – way beyond their wildest dreams. A new play by Simon Corble, (co-creator of The 39 Steps, winner of the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy), there are songs too, co-written with the inimitable Jim Woodland. Commissioned by Blaize, in collaboration with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, the play is directed by Mike Bettison and the set designed by Simon Pell and is accompanied by a dazzling photographic exhibition by Neville Turner, following the changing face of species-rich hay meadows through the seasons. Screens house monitors displaying images of flora and fauna of the meadows; there is also a 50” flat screen showing fixed point photography taken over a twelve month period.  Sward! is an entertaining romp, that nevertheless delivers some powerful messages about the environment and our responsibilities towards it.

Target audience: Adults, young people and families (children 8+)

To see more about Sward! click here or click here to see costumes page

To hear the Radio Teesdale programme on Sward! follow this link

For tour dates click here or if you would like a pdf version click here

To read what the Northen Echo had to say click here