Olivia Post, Jon Terry, Claire Coull and Martina Greenwood (photo by Paul Seaby)

 in

BATTLE – a Modern Mystery Play

by

Saskia Wesnigk-Wood,
Theatre and Opera Director, Writer, Translator

SwanWing Productions

as performed at the Edinburgh Fringe August 2022

 4 star review: www.Broadwaybaby.com By Rebecca Vines  @life_arts_lane

https://broadwaybaby.com/shows/battle-a-modern-mystery-play/760556

Battle describes itself as a modern mystery play, and takes the audience on an intricately-plotted historical journey from 1066 to the present day: exploring how women just gather up their skirts and carry on as the men around them love… fight… die.

The imaginative script has shades of Mother Courage, a whiff of Christopher Fry and a hearty, dollopy nod to Euripides

Written by Saskia Wesnigk, the imaginative script has shades of Mother Courage, a whiff of Christopher Fry and a hearty, dollopy nod to Euripides. It shuttles forwards and backwards again from the French invasion of England, when William the Bastard so unceremoniously walloped Harold II with an arrow and snatched the infant country of England for himself. But they are just the first pair of toxic Williams and Harrys we are invited to explore: the Conqueror’s own sons, Shakespeare’s Prince Hal, the currently warring Cambridges and Sussexes are all encompassed in a piece which largely bypasses the more well-known antics of men and focuses instead on the women left to clean-up, cope and chorus about the chaos unfolding around them.

SwanWing Productions have created a neat little piece with a lot of heart and humanity. As the Fates snip snip snip at the strings tying these men to their little lives, the womenfolk plod on… smoking, baking, sewing, passing comment with a weary and cyclical inevitability conducted by Old Father Time himself. The four actors present with care and commitment and are so invested in their characterisations that it is impossible not to be infected by their passion for the subject material and those they are breathing life into.

 
A review by Paul Bryan, history teacher

This is a gem of a show, beautifully presented. Occasionally at the Fringe it is possible to stumble across work of the highest quality just by taking a chance. This happened to me when I watched this show. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.

and by Emma Kemp, performer of Artorigus, the story of King Arthur

This play is a must see for those with an interest in Early Modern Theatre. Taking inspiration from the medieval mystery cycles, this piece of new writing moves between 1066 and the present day, telling stories through the eyes of the women. War, marriage, family, fate and loss are all explored in a moving and thought provoking way.

The production utilises multi-role, puppetry and music to great effect. Having a wagon as the focal point on stage harks back to the medieval tradition of telling stories, as well as the travelling wagons that followed armies in times of war. It is very reminiscent of Brecht’s Mother Courage. Don’t miss this hidden gem of a play.

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.)

++++++++++++++++++++

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.