GREEN Hammerton rural touring company Badapple Theatre is gearing up for the third and final nationwide tour of Back To The Land Girls.

Written and directed by Kate Bramley, the show honours the women who served their country by working on the land in Yorkshire during the Second World War.

“Thanks to a huge amount of interest from venues across the country, this comedy theatre show will play to around 30 halls nationwide during March, and with two halls sold out already in Easington and Barnsley, we’re hoping the show goes out with a bang!”

The stories of former Women’s Land Army volunteers from across Yorkshire were collected by Kate as inspiration for her play, her research aided by a lottery grant from Awards For All.

“The show follows the comedic journey of two young women who volunteer to work for the Land Army,” says Kate, introducing her protagonists, Buff, a city girl who dreams of being “just like Vera Lynn”, and Biddy, a hopelessly romantic country girl.

“Theirs is a journey of blisters, back ache and banter, as they learn all there is to know about working on the land, in a family show with plenty of good humour and music by Jez Lowe, suitable for all ages, though we recommend it as most suited to age ten-plus.”

This is Badapple’s third show under its innovative Theatre On Your Doorstep programme. “We call it doorstep theatre because this is a chance for local people to come out and enjoy professional theatre right on their doorstep,” says Kate. “They can come and have a drink – either tea or something stronger – and a laugh among friends close to home.

“We’re delighted that the Lottery funding has enabled us to reach further into communities, and we’re overwhelmed by the wealth of support for this project right across the country since the pilot shows in 2009.”

The new tour will open with a preview at Green Hammerton Village Hall, near York, on March 2; box office, 01423 339168. Visit badappletheatre.com for the full tour itinerary.

Badpple’s next production will be The James Herriot Story, on the roads from the end of April.


The Badapple tour dates:

March 2 preview, Green Hammerton Village Hall; March 3, Fewston Parochial Hall, 01943 880362; March 4, The Junction, Goole, 01405 763652; March 5, Spotlight Theatre, Bridlington, 01262 601006; March 6, Skipsea Village Hall, 2.30pm, 01262 468237; March 8, Dalton-le-Dale Parish Hall, 01642 535273; March 9, Weaverthorpe Village Hall, 01944 738804; March 10, Heanor Baptist Church, 01773 718676.

March 11, Bishops Wood Village Hall, 01785 840404;March 12, Church Lawford Village Hall, 02476 542860; March 13, Frampton on Severn Village Hall, Gloucestershire; March 15, Easington Community Hall, sold out; March 16, Doncaster Civic Theatre, 01302 342349; March 17, Lamproom Theatre, Barnsley, sold out; March 18, Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, 0161 912 5616; March 19, Tockwith Village Hall, 01423 339168, March 20; North Stainley Village Hall, near Ripon, 01765 635236; March 22, Sutton Village Hall, 01777 707562; March 23, Thrumpton Village Hall, 0115 983 0551; March 24, Corringham Village Hall, 01427 838368 or 838705; March 25, Ludford Village Hall, 01507 313335; March 26, Frampton Village Hall, 01205 364379 or in person from Clarks-Townbridge; March 27, Westborough Village Hall, 01400 281206.

All shows start at 7.30pm, except the Skipsea matinee at 2.30pm.