Far From the Madding Crowd (Swale)

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Far From the Madding Crowd (Swale)

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  4w, 5m

Thomas Hardy, Jessica Swale

Thomas Hardy's  Far From the Madding Crowd
adapted by Jessica Swale

"Swale skilfully knits the epic and intimate" - What's On Stage

Far From the Madding Crowd (Swale)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Far From the Madding Crowd (Swale)

Details

Summary

When Bathsheba Everdene inherits a farm from her uncle, no-one expects her to run it alone. But our spirited young heroine will not be deterred and eagerly takes up the gauntlet.

She rises impressively to the challenges of sheep farming, but the trials of the heart are harder to overcome. Caught between a pair of suitors - the kind and dependable shepherd Gabriel Oak and the prosperous eligible bachelor William Boldwood, her choice seems hard enough. Then the dashing Sergeant Troy appears over the horizon, with a swagger in his step and a dangerous secret in his past. Who will she choose?

Adapted by Jessica Swale, whose play Blue Stockings was nominated for an Evening Standard Award. Her other adaptations include The Secret Garden and Sense and Sensibility, also for the Watermill.

History

Far From the Madding Crowd premiered at The Watermill Theatre in Newbury in April 2015 under the direction of Jessica Swale.

BATHSHEBA EVERDENE
LIDDY
GABRIEL OAK
BOLDWOOD
JAN
MARY ANN
FANNY / CAINY
SERGEANT TROY
JOSEPH

The doubling breakdown for 9 characters is as follows:

BATHSHEBA
GABRIEL
SERGEANT TROY - also plays Matthew Moon, Sir, and Farmer 2
BOLDWOOD - also plays Laban Tall, Other Man, and Old Man
LIDDY - also plays Seerving Girl and Lady 2
FANNY - also play Cainy Ball
MARY-ANN - also plays Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Tall, Mrs. Twill, Lady 1, and Fiddler
JOSEPH POORGRASS - also plays Labourer, Inn Keeper, Trader 1, Tailor, and Vicar
JAN COGGAN - also plays Farmer 1, Trader 2, Gent, Birkin, Lady 3, and Proter

  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 105 Minutes

Media

REVIEWS 

"Swale skilfully knits the epic and intimate" - What's On Stage, Read More 

"This is an outstanding celebration of Hardy’s novel." - British Theatre Guide, Read More

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Thomas Hardy

Jessica Swale

Jessica Swale is a writer and director. She is Artistic Director of Red Handed Theatre Company and a returning playwright at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Plays include Nell Gwynn (winner of the Egerton Foundation New Play Award 2015), All's Will that Ends Will (Bremen Shak ...
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