The Land by Vita Sackville-West
Adapted and performed by Sonia Ritter and Tim Laycock.

'.......the country habit has me by the heart...'

Sonia Ritter and Tim Laycock have created a rare opportunity to hear one of the most remarkable epic poems written in the 20th century in an evening which combines the passion of Vita Sackville-West's poetry with new and traditional music and natural sound.
Hailed by both critics and public alike as a masterpiece, The Land was awarded the prestigious Hawthornden Prize in 1926. The power of The Land lies in its singular and vital celebration of rural England and particularly the beloved Weald of Kent where Vita Sackville-West lived. Vita considered the poem to be her true claim to the status of great writer.
In The Land, the poet is the narrator and protagonist: an intimate lover of the soil who shares the tough and testing cycle of the farmer's year without sentimentality. She follows the seasons with those who work the soil, revelling and wrestling with the seasonal forces of the natural world and their astonishing beauty.
The poem has not lost its poignancy. The unending conflict and collaboration between humankind and the Earth that lies at the heart of the narrative is all too relevant today.
Leaping away from the page with all the power of live performance, this adaptation of The Land unlocks the drama of this epic poem and creates an evening that celebrates the joy of the spoken word fused with wonderful music and sound.

Booking The Land

The Land is available for booking. We are currently planning tours in early 2009 and would be delighted to hear from you if this period is of interest regarding booking The Land.
We do welcome other scheduling options too!
We can provide all promotional material: leaflets, posters and press release.
The Land has minimal technical requirements and is ideally suited to village halls, small arts venues, poetry and live literature festivals and alternative venues such as churches, outdoor museums, heritage sites and historic building. The serving of local food and refreshments in the interval would complete the evening!
The Land is very adaptable regarding staging and we welcome the suggestions of any venue regarding the facilities of their respective space.
Duration: 2 x 45 minutes with an interval (duration as required by the venue)
Minimum stage size: 2 x 4 meters or can be performed on the flat with some restricted viewing
Lighting: A simple general state on the performance space with highlight on the performers is ample. We do not tour lights but have worked in natural and enhanced as well as stage light. (We have worked in halls using domestic standard lamps!)
Sound: CD player and speaker (can be supplied) Basic changing room facilities required
Fee: negotiable
For booking please contact Emma Butler Smith: 0780 325 1936 admin@thelionspart.co.uk

Reg. charity no.1083129

Book The Land for your venue

Extract from the programme

Photos from The Land