Open Sky at The Courtyard: Scorched

As well as Hairy Fairy Tails on Saturday 20 May, Open Sky will also present Scorched here on Friday 26 May – a performance that was originally co-commissioned by The Courtyard!

SCORCHED arrives following a critically acclaimed run at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe and plays at The Courtyard on Friday 26 May as part of a UK tour. In the last couple of weeks it has played to standing ovations in Birmingham, London and at the Brighton Fringe Festival. Scorched uses new writing, physical theatre, period music, puppetry and projection to create a hazardous journey of remembrance.

“Cleverly written…beautifully told…a superb performance.” **** The Edinburgh Guide

Egypt. 1941. WWII. An escaped German officer. A two-day chase across the brutal Sahara. A triumphant capture. A hero’s return. England. 1991. Jack reigns from the armchair of his rest home, a local legend and decorated veteran of Tobruk. Former river warden, boxer, horse whisperer, charmer and highly prolific father. Memories are, by his own hand, tattooed on his body but dementia is eroding his mind. As the Gulf War rages in the media, the past drags him back to his own scorched sands.
Scorched was inspired by stories from the life of our writer’s grandfather who served in the north Africa campaign during WWII. It was co-commissioned by the Courtyard as part of their Creative Ageing work.

“The Courtyard provided vital financial, creative and developmental support and we presented early ideas at their ‘Remember Me’ Dementia Awareness day before taking the show to Edinburgh.” Claire Coaché, Artistic Director, Open Sky.

In addition to directing Scorched and running Open Sky, Claire works as one of The Courtyard’s Creative Ageing practitioners and is collaborating with Hereford College of Arts degree students on a performance of Nicola Davies ‘The Day War Came’ #3000chairs at this year’s Hay Festival.

“Living and working in Herefordshire is proving to be one of the best decisions we’ve made and the company is going from strength to strength. We have the catchphrase ‘look up, the possibilities are endless’ and that feels more and more true!” said Claire

Scorched will be performed in The Courtyard’s Studio Theatre on Friday 26 May at 8pm. Tickets are £12, Concessions £11.