Preview: The Birds and the Bees
On Sarah’s East Anglian farm the honeybees are dropping like flies – just like her love life. Her husband bolted twenty years ago and she hasn’t slept with anyone since. Her middle-aged daughter Gail’s marriage is going up in smoke just like her turkey farm and neighbour Earl is fighting a losing battle with his sugar beet yield and his ‘no strings’ relationships.
Then along comes city-dwelling bio-student Ben to study those pesky poorly performing pollinators. He could probably also have a look at Sarah’s turkeys, which can’t seem to mate without a human helping hand. Perhaps some local mead and the annual Turkey Day’s Dance will sort everything out – and not just for the birds.
As the consequences of that momentous night unfold Sarah, Gail, Earl and Ben discover the best way out of a crisis is to commit to those closest to you – just watch out and don’t get stung.
The full cast for this were recently announced for the upcoming East of England tour of James McDermott’s new East Anglian “relocation” of the hit Canadian comedy The Birds and the Bees by Mark Crawford.
The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will be partnering with Norwich Theatre, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and John Stalker Productions for the tour, which will mark the first professional UK production of any version of Mark Crawford’s play as well as the first co-production between the three East Anglian based theatres.
The production will run at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from 25th March – 9th April before heading on tour to Norwich Theatre from 20th-30th April and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from 3rd-7th May. The production will also be livestreamed for four performances during its run at the New Wolsey Theatre from 7th-9th April.
Tickets for tour dates at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds are now on sale via their respective websites.
NEW WOLSEY THEATRE – www.wolseytheatre.co.uk 01473 295900
NORWICH THEATRE – www.norwichtheatre.org – 01603 630 000
THEATRE ROYAL, BURY ST EDMUNDS – www.theatreroyal.org – booking@theatreroyal.org