Swallows and Amazons Reach Cardiff

Swallows and Amazons, reaches the final destination of its 2012 UK tour this week, as it arrives at the New Theatre, Cardiff.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a new review to whet the appetite. Hopefully the reviewer is correct and it will be revived in the future. But where, when and how remains to be seen. So if you are thinking about going, do “grab the chance” and head to Cardiff whilst you can.

More Movie Memories

If you haven’t had a chance to look at Sophie Neville’s excellent blog about her experiences playing Titty, in the 1974 movie of Swallows and Amazons,  previously mentioned here, then please  (x 3,000,000) do take a moment to look it up. It’s a “treasure trunk” of insights into the making of the film.

Her latest installment adds extracts from Suzanna Hamilton’s diary. Suzanna, credited as Zanna Hamilton, played Susan.

Ransome Joins Vintage Children’s Classics

Vintage Classics, an imprint of Random House Ltd, have today announced the launch of their new list, Vintage Children’s Classics, which aims to inspire 8 – 12 year olds with a lifelong love of reading.

The initial list of twenty titles will be launched in August, 2012. It will include Swallows and Amazons and Swallowdale, the first two novels in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons series.

Swallows and Amazons to go into Space

The Stage has reported that Bristol Old Vic will be presenting a filmed version of their theatrical adaptation of Swallows and Amazons on “The Space”.

The Space is a collaboration between Arts Council England and the BBC. It is due to launch on May 1 as an online channel showing theatrical content.

Setting Sail with Swallows and Amazons

The Swallows and Amazons musical made a great start to its national tour at the Chichester Festival Theatre on Tuesday. The first performance received a very positive audience reaction and the later performances during the week are already sold out.

We are grateful to the Children’s Touring Partnership for taking our Voyages of Discovery display with them on the tour. The display comes in two parts, one introducing Arthur Ransome’s life, the other Swallows and Amazons. Please do look out for it, if you are going to any of the tour venues, and we hope it enhances your enjoyment of the play itself.

Update on Online Donations

We’re pleased to say that our online donation pages at Charity Choice are now working again. You can connect to them here, or by the Charity Choice logo in the sidebar.

Many thanks to the staff at Charity Choice for resolving this matter!

Online Donations Via Charity Choice

We’re sorry to say that our online donations service via Charity Choice is currently unavailable. This is due to a recent upgrade in the Charity Choice website, and we are working to re-instate an online donation option as soon as we can. In the meantime our text and postal donation systems are both still available.

Please accept our apologies for any incovenience caused.

Audience Reactions to Swallows and Amazons

Are you wondering whether to go and see Swallows and Amazons, either at the Vaudeville, or on its 2012 UK tour?

If so, you may find these audience interviews both interesting and informative.

Meanwhile Stagetext advise that tickets for the captioned performance on January 12 are selling fast.

Swallows and Amazons Gets Five Stars

Swallows and Amazons has opened to strong reviews at the Vaudeville. The Daily Telegraph’s Charles Spencer awarded it five stars, asking readers to tip him the Black Spot, if they manage to find a better family show this festive season.

The show also found approval with the Evening Standard and Official London Theatre, as well as farther field, where the Chicago Tribune looks ahead to say: “Following a four-month U.K. tour, its hugely appealing good humor and heart deserve a return engagement at the very least.”

Swallows and Amazons Musical Book Published

The opening of Swallows and Amazons at the Vaudeville, also marks the publication of  Helen Edmundson’s theatrical adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s classic novel.

The theatre book is available to buy from the publisher, Nick Hern Books’s website, and should also be in stock or available to order from all good bookshops soon. ISBN: 9781848422377, Price: £9.99.