Lilies on the Land - Arts Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
FRESH Glory Productions is presenting Lilies on the Land, a play by the Lions part, at London’s Arts Theatre – from June 10 (previews from June 8) to July 17, 2010.
As Britain went to war, women from all walks of life signed up to work long hours on the land.
Lilies on the Land is based on hundreds of letters from, and extensive interviews with, original Land Girls, as well as songs from the period, and charts the personal journeys of four women who signed up for the Women’s Land Army over 70 years ago during World War II.
The production will be directed by Sonia Ritter and performed by Rosalind Cressy, Sarah Finch, Dorothy Lawrence and Kali Peacock.
After the initial and perhaps inevitable clashes, camaraderie grows between the characters – each has a tale to tell as they are immersed in a new way of life, one bereft of the home comforts and safety of the pre-war world.
As a shared, yet still individual, experience develops amongst the Land Girls, unexpected companionship offers new rewards. The rigours of rural farming life and a determined desire to contribute to their country’s War Effort are revealed with humour and honesty – from overalls full of mice and three-inch baths, to toilet rolls from the sky and eight-stone sacks of potatoes… And if you’re lucky perhaps you’ll be treated to a Pimm’s No.1 – more than a week’s wages for one glass!
Moving in its portrayal, underscored with laughter in the face of unexpected events and revealing a breadth of experiences, Lilies on the Land is described as theatre at its most memorable. Here audiences will discover a determination in the epic ‘Dig for Victory’, a resolve not to be beaten and an enduring impact both on the women involved and the country’s landscape, not least its historical one.
Times: Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 3pm.