BADAPPLE Theatre have taken to the air at the Yorkshire Gliding Club ahead of the Green Hammerton company's national tour of Amy Johnson opening on Thursday at Stillingfleet Village Institute.

The Badapple team, led by artistic director Kate Bramley, brought their award-winning 2/3 replica Gipsy Moth bi-plane to Sutton Bank for some filming two Sundays ago, recalling how Amy herself had a huge affection for this famous Yorkshire landmark near Thirsk.

A regular flier there in later life, Hull's First Lady of the Air once remarked that when she was gliding, it was "the closest thing to being an angel". "Her time spent at the Yorkshire Gliding Club coincided with a very settled period of her life, a few years before the Second World War," says Kate.

Badapple are marking 20 years of "bringing theatre to your doorstep" by re-staging Amy Johnson, the first ever show toured by the North Yorkshire company.

"The story follows the inspirational life of the Hull aviatrix, who was the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia. During World War II, she had a vital role as one of a team of female pilots working as auxiliary personnel, and my play, which features the bi-plane, explores Amy's final mysterious wartime journey, while also celebrating her pioneering career," says Kate.

The replica Gipsy Moth bi-plane built for the original show won the Glenn Willoughby design award and still has a central role in the drama. "It was designed by set designer and air enthusiast Andy Newell, built by John Bramley and was donated to Sewerby Hall, Bridlington in 2000," says Kate.

"It now resides permanently at the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, which is loaning it back to us for this anniversary tour. Expect a good dose of Badapple humour, as well as a poignant tribute to Amy."

A prolific touring company for two decades, Badapple continue with their mission of taking productions to the smallest of rural venues, and in doing so enabling audiences to "find the best of new theatre in the most unexpected of places".

Amy Johnson will be on the road from April 5 to June 3's closing performance at the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, enabling the company to return the replica Gipsy Moth bi-plane there and then.

Sarah Raine and Frances Tither will star in Kate Bramley's production, complemented by original songs and music by Jez Lowe, a Sony Award-winning singer-songwriter who collaborated with writer Michael Morpurgo on a BBC Radio 2 broadcast of Alone On A Wide Wide Sea.

Visit badappletheatre.com for the full tour and booking details.