I think we can all agree that coronavirus has turned the world upside down. We have all had to change our lives in some way and adapt to a ‘new normal’.

I am therefore delighted to help where I can and provide a spotlight feature to Time & Again Theatre Company, based in Manchester, UK. Time & Again brings to life new writing set in days gone by or tales from long ago, revamped and revitalised for a modern world. They focus upon historical theatre as they feel you can’t begin to understand the world we’re living in today without understanding the events and people that shaped it.

This has been particularly relevant lately with the current global pandemic turning our world on its head. We can’t help but draw parallels to life on the home front in WWII, where people would have to queue for hours to try to purchase what was left on the shelves of shops and community spirit was so important.

Time & Again were due to embark upon their Spring/Summer tour as lockdown began in the UK. Obviously (and quite rightly) all performances were cancelled so they had to put our thinking caps on to find another way to bring theatre to people remotely. Thus, their amazingly talented and dedicated producer/writer adapted one of the plays they were due to tour, Greyhounds, as an episodic radio drama to be released online.

Greyhounds charts the trials and tribulations of every day life during the Second World War for the residents of Shuttlefield village. From a disastrous production of Shakespeare’s Henry V in aid of the Spitfire Fund, to a bittersweet street party on VE Day, we follow the lives of those on the home front with a touch of comedy, a taste of Shakespeare, and pure vintage flair!

Time & Again have also launched a new podcast called Then Again: Behind Big Moments in History to run alongside the audio drama. Here we delve a bit deeper into topics we touch on in Greyhounds, such as rationing, propaganda and VE Day! Find the latest episode here.

All pictures by the talented Tom Barker photography.

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