THE HARDINGS (2020)

A WARTIME STORY

‘The Hardings’ is a new play about life in Devon during the Second World War, set on Dartmoor and created, written and performed by MED Theatre’s Young Company.

Based on research into events in the area at the time, the play deals with the changing roles of men and women occasioned by the war-time emergency and contrasts the local with the international picture.

The story, which began as a stage play, was thought up pre-pandemic, written and adapted into an audio drama over Zoom during lockdown, and rehearsed remotely until our Young Company could finally come together for recording in spring 2021. 
 
We are really proud of what our young people have created and would love to hear your thoughts on it!  

What's it about?

The play begins a few years into the war, when Robert Harding decides he needs to prove himself by enlisting to fight abroad, leaving his wife and children to manage the family farm on their own. 

His daughter, Joan, has her own ideas about how things should be done, while his wife Mary only wishes that things would remain as they were. The arrival of an evacuee into the Harding home, Americans on Dartmoor and other events based on true-life stories trigger the family’s eventual need to find their way back to each other.

Performance dates

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this production was unfortunately cancelled.

The original dates of the performances were:

  • 28th November 2020 – Matinee at 2.30pm and evening performance at 7.30pm
  • 29th November 2020 – Matinee at 2.30pm
  • Tickets are £8 or £6 for under 16s

In place of the live performances, ‘The Hardings’ was transformed into a radio play and is available now to listen to HERE.

COSTUMES

Before the cancellation of our live performances, two of our Wild Nights Young Company members, Indigo and Gwen, had worked hard to design and piece together some costumes for the production. Images below of Indigo’s designs and of the final costumes that they had intended to use.

Indigo was also responsible for the wonderful poster image for The Hardings, seen above.