A play by Lance Woodman
Commissioned and first performed by Worcester Theatre Company at Worcester Swan Theatre
First production directed by Jenny Stephens Thursday 25 October to Saturday 10 November 2001
“What is striking about Lance Woodman… is that …he is one of the few dramatists ready to tackle English rural life. …the play intelligently addresses a neglected subject, the impact of the rural crisis on individual families… a play that speaks so directly and urgently to its audience…”
Michael Billington in The Guardian (complete review here)
“A remarkably compelling piece… blessed with a mix of high passion and sly humour that bodes exceptionally well for the future.”
Charles Spencer in The Daily Telegraph
Hansard: Red Skies… referred to in a parliamentary debate
Worcester Evening News: Red Skies… reviewed by Ally Hardy
Casting: 5M (including 2 supernumeraries), 2F plus a boy.
You can buy the script here.
The Shepards are a tight-knit family who have been farming for generations and they are determined to keep it that way. Their determination is shaken when John Shepard, the old man of the family, is troubled by the ghostly vision of a small boy. The appearances of the child prompt a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever.
This is a family drama that combines raw emotion with moments of black comedy. The play has been specially written for Worcester Theatre Company by Lance Woodman, writer of two of the hugely successful Worcester Century Plays
The cast was Lennox Greaves, Paul Beech, Tina Gray, Polly Lister and Robin Simpson. The boy was played by Edward Neale and Samuel Cole. The Norman was Peter Baio and the Saxon was Derek Chaplin.
The designer was Keith Baker and the lighting was by Adrian Barnes.
Lance Woodman 