[P]utting the family at the heart of their most ambitious show to date, New Perspectives give the rural perspective in Richard Bean’s epic saga, Harvest – touring to the Old Fire Station, Carlisle.
This darkly entertaining comedy tells the story of one rural family’s survival in a changing agricultural landscape, over generations of births, deaths, love and a lifetime of farming. From the writer of the international hit One Man, Two Guvnors, Harvest was first performed at London’s Royal Court in September 2005. For the first time a 6-strong ensemble present this sweeping story spanning the 20th century. Harvest is a blend of serious social history and boisterous rural drama and brings the countryside back onto the stage in ways that engaged with the reality of rural life rather than romanticising the countryside as a place of pastoral beauty.
“God made the country – man made the town” – Virgil (70-19 BC)
By 1914 Kilham Wold Farm – 82 acres of up and down near Driffield, East Yorkshire – had been in Harrison hands for 30 years, taken from a local landowner after unwittingly winning a wager. With war now raging around them, brothers William and Alfred have to face their heritage and tirelessly fight for their family’s survival against a rapidly changing world.
Written by Richard Bean and Directed by Jack Namara, Harvest is specially designed for Rural Touring and is packed with a wonderful gallery of characters played by a 6 strong cast. The show is touring to the Old Fire Station in partnership with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme. This partnership aims in increase the amount of quality theatre available to audiences in Carlisle.
Nottingham based New Perspectives have been creating shows for 45 years, specializing in new writing and quality adaptations of celebrated literature and shows with a rural relevance. It is a coup for a small-scale touring company to be granted rights to stage a world premiere by one of the country’s best known playwrights and the company is putting rural audiences first with a rare opportunity to experience a bigger live theatre production and powerful live ensemble drama.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Date/ Time: Wednesday 8th November 7.30pm
Venue: Old Fire Station, Peter Street, Carlisle CA3 3QP
Age suitability:: 14+
Tickets: £10/ £6 conc
Bookings: Via Carlisle Tourist Information Centre 01228 598 596 and http://oldfirestation.carlisle.city
