The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has revealed the full cast for the world premiere of Haywire – A Not-So-Everyday Story Of How The Archers Was Born, a new play by The Archers writer Tim Stimpson.
Running from Monday 1 September to Saturday 11 October, with a national press night on Thursday 4 September, Haywire celebrates the 75th anniversary of the iconic BBC Radio 4 drama.
Liam Horrigan will play ‘Sam’, with Geebs Marie Williams as ‘Jessica’. Rosanna Miles takes on the role of ‘Fiona’, while Olivia Bernstone plays ‘Abbie’. Anthony Glennon will appear as ‘Martin’, Kieran Brown as ‘Adrian’, and James Mack as ‘Jonty’.
The creative team includes director Joseph O’Malley, set and costume designer Alfie Heywood, lighting designer Adam Foley, composer and sound designer Amanda Priestley, and casting directors Emily Jones and Anthony Houghton.
Licensed by the BBC, Haywire transports audiences to 1950s Birmingham, where producer Godfrey Baseley gathered a group of actors above a used car showroom to record the first episode of The Archers. The play captures the spirit of radio drama and the enduring legacy of Britain’s longest-running continuing drama.
Tim Stimpson said, “It’s been a long-standing ambition of mine to tell the extraordinary story of how a small team of writers, actors and producers recording above a used car showroom in the centre of post-war Birmingham created what is now the world’s longest running soap – sorry, ‘continuing drama’. The Barn is certainly more salubrious than the BBC studios were back then, but I feel the spirit of creativity and ambition is very much the same. I couldn’t be more delighted to be working with them. Plus, how could a play about The Archers be performed anywhere other than a theatre called the Barn?!”
Jeremy Howe, Editor of The Archers, added, “Tim Stimpson and I went to the Barn Theatre and tentatively pitched Haywire to them, a comedy that is a love song to the early years of The Archers, Britain’s most loved and longest running drama. They bit our hands off to commission it. I am delighted for The Archers to be working with the Barn Theatre, one of the most dynamic and welcoming theatres in the land, and I cannot wait to be sitting in the front row on the opening night of Tim’s Haywire.”
Barn Theatre’s CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis and Executive Director Liam McMullan said, “We’re incredibly excited for the Barn to premiere Haywire as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of The Archers. As lifelong listeners, it’s thrilling to finally see with our eyes what we’ve listened to for decades. We’re hugely grateful to the BBC for trusting us with one of their most prized assets, and to Tim Stimpson and Jeremy Howe for their belief in the Barn. We’re also thrilled to be back in the rehearsal room with long-time Barn Director Joseph O’Malley, who brings humour and heart and to everything he does.”
Haywire is a heartfelt and humorous tribute to one of British media’s most beloved creations, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the drama and camaraderie that shaped a national institution.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
