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This
year, Shaw's Corner, the National Trust property in Ayot St Lawrence
Hertfordshire, is host to not one, but two, open-air theatre productions
of George Bernard Shaw's plays this summer - The Apple Cart and
The Devil's Disciple.
The
Apple Cart was Bernard Shaw's great political comedy, which anticipates
many leading events of the 20th century. The monarchy, cabinet politics,
big business corruption, and Anglo-American relations come under
the microscope of Shaw's laser like wit, in a play which is as topical
today as it was when created in 1929.
The
Devil's Disciple, on the other hand, is a very different play. A
comedy-melodrama themed around the concept of heroism, set at the
time of the American War of Independence, it has not been performed
in many years.
Walk
in Shaw's footsteps
This year, there is also a chance to enjoy a leisurely evening stroll
around George Bernard Shaw's garden and the neighbouring village
of Ayot St Lawrence, led by staff at the house.
Whilst
living in Ayot St Lawrence Shaw produced a rhyming picture guide,
which includes many photographs from his private collection taken
during the first half of the 20th century. The guide is used during
the walk, beginning:
Now
let me take you for a walk.
And show you with a rhyming talk
What our dear village has to shew
And tell you all you need to know
The
guide continues, highlighting many interesting features of village
life including the Abbey Church, Brocket Arms, Manor House and Dower
House whose best loved guest was Ann Boleyn.
The
walk, which lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours, ends with an external
tour of Shaw's Corner, originally named the New Rectory, which Shaw
describes as:
Charm
so far beyond my telling
That though in Ireland is my birthplace
This home shall be my final earthplace
This
walk offers a unique insight into what inspired the genius of this
famous writer, and a chance to discover the landscape in which he
lived.
Shaw's
Corner - my favourite spiritual place
Shaw's
Corner - Through the Keyhole
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