The Country Diary in Song: A New Musical

Guest Blog Post - John Palmer, writer and director of The Country Diary in Song

THE WORLD SEEMED TO BE MADE OF SKY AND GORSE - A TIMELESS VIEW OF DARTMOOR CAPTURED IN A NEW MUSICAL

“Glorious day. I went up on the moor to bring home a pony and a foal. Both are delightfully picturesque in their shaggy winter coats and I hope to begin their portraiture tomorrow. Went to Burrator and down to Meavy Glen. On the moor the world seemed to be made of Sky and Gorse.” 

Little has changed in this glorious part of Devon since The Country Diary of Edwardian Lady author Edith Holden wrote this entry in her famous 1906 journal, which was a 1970’s publishing sensation. The Country Diary book captúred the nation’s imagination, selling seven million copies as readers enjoyed the simplicity of a bygone age and bought dozens of nostalgic products featuring her paintings.

Edith’s favourite Dartmoor landmarks are centre-stage in our new folk musical which celebrates her 150^th birthday this September. It’s being performed at St Peter’s Meavy on Saturday 18th September, and The Church of our Lady Upton Pyne, on Sunday 19^th September.  

We wanted to bring the show to the actual locations Edith wrote about, because she was clearly so enthralled and excited by what she saw and heard. So we're delighted to be able to walk the same paths she did. If Edith had been writing today, she’d be hailed as an Eco-Warrior, such was her devotion to exploring and protecting natural beauty and the countryside. When you come to this part of Devon you really appreciate what she was trying to preserve. I’ve been here a few days and it’s breath-taking.

Edith spent April 1906 at Dousland and her Diary describes and paints what she saw as she walked over Dartmoor. For several years in a row, Edith stayed here with the Trathens – Stone mason Thomas, Anne who ran Dousland Post Office and their children.

Our London-based acapella folk group Broomdasher bring The Diary to life by singing well-loved folk songs, including Wild Mountain Thyme; Bushes and Briars; If I was a Blackbird and Seeds of Love, to illustrate her descriptions.  

We are renowned for our harmonies, arrangements – and for encouraging audiences to sing the choruses! When there’s so much to sing about in Devon, who wouldn’t want to do that! See the trailer video on youtube here: https://youtu.be/_KNJonIVJ8g

Tickets: St Peter's Meavy, 18th September at 7pm : Annie Inman 01822 852672; Sarah Gordon 01822 854298; Jonathan Frappell 01822 855541 or in person from The Royal Oak, Meavy

Church of Our Lady, Upton Pyne, near Exeter, EX5 5JA, 19^th September at 2.30pm: Linda Findlay 01392 841402 lindafindlay99@yahoo.co.uk