Cumbria, 1898. Whippet racing, hiring fairs, hunting and drunken antics collide, in this passionate story of John and Emily, a young married couple, and their moving struggle to carve a living from the land. An epic and heroic tale of love, betrayal, and loyalty, set against a backdrop of English country traditions being swept away as a new century faces the gathering storm of war… Based on the stirring novel by Melvyn Bragg, with a superb score of rousing foot-stomping rhythms and soaring choruses by Howard Goodall, the award-winning composer of West End hits Bend It Like Beckham and Love Story.

Cast

Jon Bonner

Pennington / Blacklock / The Recruiting Officer / The Vicar

Lloyd Gorman

Jackson

Oliver Hembrough

John

TJ Holmes

Seth

Lucy Keirl

Sally

Lara Lewis

May

Sufia Manya

The Landlady

Samuel Martin

Isaac

Lauryn Redding

Emily

Tom Self

The Union Chairman / Show MD

James William-Pattison

Harry / Joe Sharp