Saskia Wesnigk-Wood
SwanWing Productions
Theatre and Opera Director, Writer, Translator
Now coming to the Edinburgh Fringe 2022 – THE SPACE
BATTLE – a Modern Mystery play
and
Love in the Time of Lockdown… the New Variant
August 22.-27.
Performed in 2021 at
the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe
‘Love in the Time of Lockdown’
and 2022 at the Bread & Roses in Clapham, London.
Find out more about how ‘Love in the Time of Lockdown’ first came to be: https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/news
Tim Wilcock – EdFringe Review: “Subtly peppered with dark, dry humour, both brilliantly written and consummately delivered.”
Broadway Baby, Isla Whateley: These relatable stories were lovely to experience. The scenes blend serious, sometimes sad moments with comedy and light-heartedness in an effortless manner, which is important giving the dismalness of the overall subject matter.
The Times, Friday August 13. 2021: Clive Davis: “...there was a mixture of pathos and humour in Love in the Time of Lockdown, a series of gently comic sketches by Saskia Wesnigk-Wood that reassembled memories of a period when some of us really did say such things as, “I really can’t wait to go on a bus again.” One of the funniest episodes found two would-be lovers [Martina Greenwood and Jon Terry] meeting on a date in a park and trying to square the demands of love and lust with the rules on social distancing. Did we really put ourselves through all that? Yes, indeed.”
(More information at the bottom of this page.)
Photo by JJ Waller
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“This fabulous group of actors kept us entertained in Battle last night. A great play based around William & Harry through the ages with nods to the Battle of Hastings throughout. It was funny and moving and wonderfully acted and written. Go see them if you get a chance, they are ace!”
Observe the people short and tall
We see the fighting, see the peace
We see that they will never cease
So on we spin and weave our wool
Observing ev’ry human fool – SNIP!”
The year is 1066, William fights Harry! How do mothers, queens, wives and daughters cope? They gather their skirts and they soldier on. Telling stories in plays and songs, cooking, praying, working, gazing at Halley’s Comet in awe.
Old Father Time takes us through the centuries as three women and one man tell the stories of what happened before and after the many battles between quite a few Williams and Harrys. Sometimes they are the kings of 1066, other times just two men disagreeing, and then they are the sons of Princess Diana. It is mostly the women looking at their situation, how will they cope when the men and the boys are gone? “Who foots the bill but us women and our hungry children/If we can not stop this feud between Harry and William?“ We also meet magical women, the Fates who see everything the mortals do from a much loftier point of view, and three naughty witches who have their own nasty agenda, sending a hapless modern archer into the shocking past.
Available for touring, and school performances. Duration 1 hour.
Please contact saskiawesnigk @ gmail.com for further info.
Listen to the latest podcast of Saskia’s stories
‘Not Drowning’ and ‘Steven is Gone’ https://www.buzzsprout.com/1854669/10535258
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1854669/9260352
Links:
Gladrags Costume Hire
Love never stops, not even during Lockdown, but it gets so much harder. These 17 characters have been lonely, alone or had not a moment of privacy. They have been brave or resigned, they’ve run away or stayed put and some had hallucinations – or did they?
In a number of scenes six actors portray acutely observed people from all walks of life: illegitimate lovers, the patient who suddenly fancies the doctor, those who call a helpline just to have someone to talk to, and those who quietly get on with their incredibly difficult lives. A young woman talks to her car, an old woman almost cries when her budgie kisses her on the cheek. Actors miss the limelight but still have each other. This hour will have you laughing and crying and talking about how it was for you, for your neighbour and your friends. Everyone has a different story, everyone needs to be heard.
Cast:
Claire Coull
Gillian Fischer (not taking part in the 2022 Edinburgh perfomances)
Martina Greenwood
Olivia Post
Jon Terry
Written and directed by: Saskia Wesnigk-Wood
Photos from the Brighton run by Strat Mastoris:
