The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership is proud to present ‘Sour Cherry Soup’, a new 45 minute one woman show which tells the story of the changing landscapes and populations of the Chilterns, as well as how the history of cherries is also the history of Southern England, reflecting the richness of the landscape, past, present and future. Touring in local venues this June, and a residency at Wycombe Museum – see the full list at www.chilternsaonb.org/ChilternsTheatre

The stunning chalk landscape of the Chilterns is crisscrossed by historic pathways, hillforts and burial mounds, full of ancient woodland, hedgerows and chalk streams, with traces of human occupation going back at least 5000 years  – plus the cherry orchards, cultivated by generations of farmers plying the land, a bygone culture literally beneath our feet in the local towns and villages. 

But it’s also a contemporary landscape, a thriving environment that supports busy town populations and diverse communities, as well as glorious walks across the hills and a fragile ecosystem of protected plants and animals.

Sour Cherry Soup, written by playwright Sara Clifford for the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme, has been inspired by real stories of Chilterns people, gathered by Sara at creative workshops and discussions with community groups across the Chilterns. We’re thrilled to be bringing this brand new play to a range of outdoor venues in the Chilterns this summer – join us to dive into the Chilterns in a way you may not have experienced before!

Performance dates:

• Wednesday 14th June, 7.30pm
• Thursday 15th June, 7.30pm
• Friday 16th June, 7.30pm
• Saturday 17th June, 2.30pm

Evening Performance Timings:

• Doors open at 6:30pm – come and grab a drink from our onsite bar, bring a picnic if you wish and soak up the atmosphere in the Museum’s beautiful grounds. The museum including our ‘Hidden Hands’ exhibition will also be open for you to enjoy before the performance.
• Performance starts: 7:30pm
• Performance ends: 8:15pm
• Event closes: 9pm approx

Matinee Performance Timings:

• Doors open at 1:30pm – come and grab a drink from our onsite bar, bring a picnic if you wish and soak up the atmosphere in the Museum’s beautiful grounds. The museum including our ‘Hidden Hands’ exhibition will also be open for you to enjoy before the performance.
• Performance starts: 2:30pm
• Performance ends: 3:15pm
• Event closes: 4pm approx

Need to know:

• Suitable for adults and children aged 12+. Younger children are welcome but they may not find the show very engaging
• What you need to bring: Chairs or rugs to sit on – no seating will be provided. Clothing suitable for the weather (see below)
• Toilets: yes, on site
• Food & drink: Bar on site serving a range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, including local distillery Puddingtone’s PUDPUD Cherry Gin! Snacks also available from the bar, as well as some cherry based goodies. You’re welcome to bring a picnic, but please don’t bring alcohol of your own.
• Accessibility: The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with disabled-access lift and toilets. Some parts of are garden have some steep slopes or uneven pathways that may be difficult to access. See www.accessibilityguides.org/content/wycombe-museum for more info
• Parking: very limited parking on site – easy parking available on surrounding streets, see www.wycombemuseum.org.uk/visit for more info
• Wet weather plan: This performance is outside under a marquee, and will go ahead in all weathers, aside from an extreme weather warning in which case it will be cancelled and refunds provided. Please ensure you are dressed for the weather, as no refunds will be given apart for in the case of an extreme weather warning.
• The performance may be photographed and video for marketing and legacy purposes. If you do not want to be featured, please inform a steward on the day.

About Sara Clifford – Inroads Productions – Writer/Creative Producer 

Sara has written over 40 plays including commissions for the Soho Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Nottingham Playhouse, and her work has been produced in France, Italy, Guadeloupe and Hong Kong. She has been Writer in Residence at Brighton University, Chichester Festival and the South Downs National Park; and her play A Thousand Days, was a Finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn award. As Writer/ Artistic Director of her company, Inroads, she works with local communities to create place-based work rooted in their stories and has developed 10 site specific participatory pieces since 2012, most recently Two Pairs of Eyes at Newhaven Fort in 2022. She also teaches writing and dramaturgy in Higher Education and for the Arvon Foundation. www.inroads.org.uk – www.saraclifford.com

About Fiona Ross – Performance Director

Fi is a theatre maker and performer and an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company directing and leading on international projects and workshops. She has worked regularly at The Everyman Cheltenham, Salisbury Playhouse Oxford Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal Bath ,Oxford Stage Co, ACT, The English Speaking Theatre, Vienna and British Council tours into Europe and the Far East .She has also worked extensively as a choreographer and movement director. Recent productions include directing and producing immersive pieces for the National Trust at Croome Court and the Also festival, When The Rain Stops Falling, Red Dog Theatre , Walking the Line – Cheltenham Everyman, Winters Tale , Birmingham Conservatoire. She is delighted to collaborate on Sour Cherry Soup.

About Melody Brown – Performer

Melody trained at Manchester School of Theatre. Recent credits include The Good Person of Szechwan for Sheffield Crucible and Lyric Hammersmith; Wind in the Wilton’s at Wilton’s Music Hall; the Olivier nominated Midsummer Mechanicals for Shakespeare’s Globe; Two Pairs of Eyes for Inroads; The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure for the Royal Shakespeare Company; Henry V for Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory; House and Garden and Bubbles at the Watermill; Tamburlaine for New Earth and The Arcola; Last Journey for Pentabus; The History Boys for Selladoor; Free Folk for Forest Forge. She recently played Ivy in Graeae’s adaptation of The Chatterleys for BBC radio four. TV work includes Eastenders and One Foot in the Grave.

Play originally commissioned by South Downs National Park Authority.