Red Sky at Sunrise

About the Concert

Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words and Music

Red Sky at Sunrise follows Laurie Lee through his muchloved trilogy, Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, and A Moment of War, when Lee famously walked out of the Slad valley one midsummer morning, and ended up fighting with the International Brigades against Franco’s forces in the Spanish Civil War.

The role of Laurie Lee is shared by Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett. An RSC Associate, Anton Lesser has played many principal roles at Stratford, including Romeo and Richard III. He is best known for his roles in Game of Thrones, The Crown, Wolf Hall and Endeavour, as well as being one of our most famous Radio voices. Charlie Hamblett made his debut at the RSC in Michael Boyd’s production of Richard III, which led to a career in theatre, film and TV, including Killing Eve, Around the World in Eighty Days, Ghosts and The Secret Agent.

David Le Page has devised a gorgeous musical programme that weaves around Lee’s writing, from the lush Gloucestershire countryside Lee made famous in Cider With Rosie, to the dry landscapes of Spain, via the music of Vaughan Williams, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Britten, Grainger, Albeniz, Turina and De Falla. We are also delighted to welcome back guitarist Mark Ashford who will regale us with renditions of Asturias, Sevilla and Spanish Romance. Devised as a show by Judy Reaves, text by Laurie Lee has been adapted by Deirdre Shields. 

Tickets available from 11 April 2023 from the RSC box office.