Two of our best-loved actors, Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett play the role of Laurie Lee older and younger, along with a rich array of other characters. Together, they celebrate Lee’s engaging humour, as well as his darker side, in a performance that has startling resonance with modern events.
Anton Lesser*
Charlie Hamblett*
Devised as a show by Judy Reaves, the text by Laurie Lee has been adapted by Deirdre Shields.
David Le Page has devised a gorgeous musical programme performed by members of Orchestra of the Swan, that weaves around Lee’s writing, via the music of Vaughan Williams, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Britten, Grainger, Albéniz, Turina and Falla. Featuring guitarist Mark Ashford performing Asturias, Sevilla and Spanish Romance.
Adapted by Deirdre Shields
Directed by Judy Reaves
Music Arranged & Directed by David Le Page
"Altogether, it’s a lovely thing. If you can catch it, do. "
Libby Purves - theatreCat -
“Red Sky is a triumph…Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett deliver an astonishing performance, the two actors and their orchestra encompass Lee’s life completely. The unique use of Orchestra of the Swan is a brilliant and novel device.”
Isabel Raper, Ox in a Box
“The music had me vacillating wildly between happy thumpy heart and salty-teared chin-wobble.”
Gill Sutherland, Stratford Herald
“The fusion of the spoken word with the musical arrangements worked to perfection and the credit has to go to Le Page and Shields for their skilful blending of word and music to provide Judy Reaves with such a dramatically satisfying production.”
Paul Clark, British Theatre Guide Review
Red Sky at Sunrise follows Laurie Lee through his much-loved trilogy, Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, and A Moment of War, when Lee famously walked out of the Slad valley one midsummer morning, and ended up fighting with the International Brigades against Franco’s forces in the Spanish Civil War.
*Anton Lesser & Charlie Hamblett appear subject to availability