The Farmer’s Wife at Theatre by the Lake Keswick Review
A brand-new play by Hannah Khalil, directed by Theatre by the Lake’s very own Liz Stevenson and based on a book by farmer’s wife Helen Rebanks.
We don’t often get a “world premiere” in Cumbria, but here it is.
Farming has always been a central part of Cumbria. It has shaped our landscape and helped to make it one of the most stunning places in the UK. Driving through the Cumbrian countryside, you will see many stone-built farmhouses with grey slate roofs, but this story takes us through the keyhole and into a day in the life of a farmer’s wife.
The whole play is set in the kitchen of the farmhouse, mostly around the large kitchen table. Three generations of women from a farming family tell their story. Eireann Devlin plays the youngest woman, who is full of new ideas and enthusiasm. Christine Entwisle plays the older woman, at times overwhelmed by the never-ending list of things she has to deal with. Roberta Kerr plays the oldest woman, who, through her own life experience, brings reassurance and calmness to the story.
Interestingly although from different generations some of the conflict in the relationships are very similar, but also each era brings a new problem onto the shoulders of these remarkable women who play a vital role in getting the food to our table.
The story is full of energy and, at times, very emotional. There is also joy and laughter. There’s a lot of dialogue, which all the actors delivered well, and I didn’t miss a word they said. I was amused by the way they made an actual cake with real ingredients while they were telling their story.
Initially, I struggled with identifying what was a flashback to an earlier time and what was present, and I did wonder why the actors were wafting around the stage, but I got my head around that eventually.
There is a very original ending. I won’t spoil it for you by telling you exactly what it was, but it is something I have never experienced at any other live performance.
This story has made me think more about the life of a farmer’s wife and all the different roles they have to play in that life. It’s much more than the domestic roles I thought it was. The next time I pass a Cumbrian farmhouse, I’ll think about what might be going on around that kitchen table.
To complement the show, there is an exhibition of photography by Amy Bateman called Forty Farms. It features stories from different farms across the county. Situated in the Circle Gallery, it is free to visit during the theatre’s opening hours.
The Farmer’s Wife is showing at Theatre by the Lake from Friday 18th September to Saturday 10th October. Shows start at 7.30, with 2pm matinees on selected dates. Set in the round, the show runs for 90 minutes with no interval. It is suitable for ages 11 and up, and ticket prices range from £12 up to £43, available from the theatre website.
http://theatrebythelake.com
On selected dates, there is a post-show film screening or talk offered. Check the website for more details of these.
Rating: 4/5
https://www.theatrebythelake.com/event/the-farmers-wife-keswick-helen-rebanks/