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+)

See here for Tour Dates

Tour Dates

April 2011
Saturday 30th   BOWES & GILMONBY Parish Hall, DL12 9HU tel 01833 628373

May 2011
Sunday 1st   WATSON INSTITUTE, Castle Carrock, CA8 9PB  tel 01228 670054 
Monday 2nd   No performance
Monday 3rd   IVEGILL Village Hall, CA4 0PA  tel 016974 73707
Wednesday 4th   DRIFFIELD SCHOOL, YO25 5HR tel 01377 253631 ext 272
Thursday 5th   SPOTLIGHT THEATRE, Bridlington,  YO15 3DZ tel 01262 601006
Friday 6th   SHIRE HALL, Howden, DN14 7BJ  tel 01430 431535  ( 7pm start )
Saturday 7th   TICKTON Village Hall, HU17 9SD tel 01964 543594  ( 8pm start )
Sunday 8th to Wednesday 11th  No performances
Thursday 12th   DUNSHOP BRIDGE Village Hall, BB7 3BG tel 01254 660360
Friday 13th   RAINHALL Centre, Barnoldswick, BB18 5DR  tel 01282 818250
Saturday 14th   MELLING Village Hall, LA6 2RB  tel 015242 21233  ( 7pm start )
Sunday 15th   SLAIDBURN Village Hall  BB7 3ES  tel 01200 446555  ( 7pm start ) 
Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th  No performances
Thursday 19th   BICKERTON Village Hall,  SY14 8AU  tel 01829 782392
Friday 20th   TARVIN Community Centre,  CH3 8LY  tel 01829 740109
Saturday 21st   GOODWILL HALL, Faddiley,  CW5 8HY  tel 01270 524441
Sunday 22nd   The BARBOUR INSTITUTE, Tattenhall,  CH3 9PX  tel 01829 771442 ( 7pm start )
Monday 23rd   No performance
Tuesday 24th   APPLEBY Public Hall,  CA16 6YA  tel 017683 52210
Wednesday 25th   MICKLETON Village Hall, DL12 0JR  tel 07794 850282  ( 7pm start )
Thursday 26th   BAMBURGH Pavilion, NE69 7BJ  tel 01665 721061
Friday 27th   CORNHILL on TWEED Village Hall,  TD12 4UA  tel 01890 882268
Saturday 28th   St THOMAS Church Hall, Stanhope,  DL13 2UE  tel 01388 528673  ( 7pm start )
Sunday 29th   MUNGRISDALE Village Hall,  CA11 0XR  tel 017687 79397
Monday 30th - Tuesday 31st No performances

June 2011
Wednesday 1st  No performance
Thursday 2nd   GOSFORTH Public Hall,  CA20 1AS  tel 019467 25700 
Friday 3rd   BEAMISH MUSEUM, Stanley  DH9 0RG tel 0191 370 4000 ( start tba )
Saturday 4th  WABERTHWAITE, CA18 1RW  tel 01229 717218
Sunday 5th & Monday 6th  No performances
Tuesday 7th   DENT Village Hall. LA10 5QL  ( 7pm start )
Wednesday 8th   DALES COUNTRYSIDE MUSEUM, Hawes,  DL8 3NT tel 01524 251004 ( 7pm start )
Thursday 9th   DARLEY Memorial Hall, Harrogate,  HG3 2RP tel 01423 780258 ( 7pm start ) 
Friday 10th   REETH Memorial Hall,  DL10 4QL  tel 01748 880019 (  2pm start )
Saturday 11th  MELMERBY Village Hall.  CA10 1HE tel 01768 881291
Sunday 12th & Monday 13th  No performances
Tuesday 14th   AMERDALE HALL, Arncliffe,  BD23 5QP  tel 01756 770235 ( 7pm start )
Wednesday 15th   WEST BURTON Village Hall, DL8 4JY  tel 01969 663753 ( 7 pm start )
Thursday 16th   SETTLE VICTORIA Hall,  BD24 9DX  tel 01729 825718  ( 7 pm start )
Friday 17th   LOFTHOUSE Memorial Hall,  HG3 5SA  tel 01423 755275  ( 7pm start )
Saturday 18th   BURNSALL Village Hall,  BD23 6BP tel tba  ( 7 pm start )

Start times 7:30 pm unless otherwise stated