Swallows and Amazons

 Performed on January 17th, 18th and 19th 2013

This was a delightful and gloriously inventive production, an action-packed adventure for the whole family.

Cobham Players was the first amateur group to produce this play. It is a children’s adventure story, but to add to the charm the cast were adults playing the parts of the children.

Based on the novel by Arthur Ransome

Adapted by Helen Edmundson 

Directed by Rodney Pearson

All aboard The Swallow! Follow Captain John and his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island on an exotic adventure to encounter savages, capture dastardly pirates and defeat mortal enemies!

This is a story of an idyllic era…………of endless summer evenings and the beauty of youthful imagination.

The action is set in a period when there were no computers, iPods, iPads or iPhones!  Today’s youngsters will be astonished at the richness of the youthful activities and the adventures that went on.   Four children are rapidly caught up in a daily round of adventures involving sailing, camping, fishing, exploration and, ultimately, piracy.  Sailing their dinghy “Swallow”, the Walker foursome encounter another two girls, the Blackett children, with their own dinghy, the “Amazon”.  Rivalry and fun ensues.

Swallows and Amazons is set during the long, hot summer of 1929 in the evocative environment of Coniston Water in the Lake District.

The stage adaptation was first performed at the Bristol Old Vic in 2010 to huge acclaim.  It was subsequently produced by the National Theatre and then went on a very successful national tour.

The Cast

Swallows

John Walker – Keith Burgess

Susan Walker – Millie Hart

Titty Walker – Nicky Barnes

Roger Walker – Stuart Evans

Amazons

Nancy Blackett – Jean Burgess

Peggy Blackett – Jacquie Slater

Barbarians

Mrs Walker – Maureen Willcox

Policeman – Mike Dawes

Captain Flint – Rodney Pearson

Other roles played by members of the cast.

Production Team:

Mel Cook

Stephen Farr

Brian Hulme

Christina Kendall

Andrew Mair

Nan Sadler