War of the Worlds, Furzey Gardens

A REIMAGINING of HG Wells’ classic The War of the Worlds will be performed against the stunning backdrop of Furzey Gardens in Minstead.

The brand new adaptation by SUP is described as a fast-moving version of the sci-fi classic, presented as a live radio play.

“This story lends itself brilliantly to being performed as a radio show,” says award-winning writer and director Chris Hawley. “Of course, back in 1938, Orson Welles did just that, famously, with ‘the night that panicked America’.”

However, this adaptation brings a new spin on the story – with live immersive sound effects which will have audiences on the edge of their seats.”

It’s July 1969 in a local radio station in southern England and eminent studio guests are discussing the Apollo 11 mission and its epic journey to land a man on the moon. As these historic events unfold, strange lights are seen in the skies over Surrey, and following a series of unexplained explosions near Woking and Winchester, reports come in of extraordinary creatures crawling out of the impact craters and enormous machines striding across the countryside, and soon the terrifying truth behind these events begins to emerge...

The outdoor performance of SUP’s War of the Worlds will be at Furzey Gardens on 4th, 5th and 6th July at 7.30pm. Doors open at 6pm for picnicking, with chairs and blankets welcome. Ponchos and raincoats are recommended for wet weather as umbrellas will not be permitted.

Tickets are £15 from Furzey Gardens by calling 023 8066 7683 or visiting minsteadtrust.org.uk/furzey-gardens