The Shepherds Life gives you a true insight into Cumbrian life in two and a half hours, capturing local shows, lambing time, all the seasons and even foot-and-mouth giving you an honest look at life as a farmer.
Based on the book, The Shepherd’s Life written by James Rebanks, Chris Monks has adapted it into a beautiful piece of theatre which captures the hardships as well as the highlights of life as a farmer without romanticising it. Based in Matterdale in the eastern Lake District, we are told the tale of James and his family who have farmed in the same valleys for over 600 years.
With perfect Cumbrian accents and language, the cast portrayed the story of James Rebanks exceptionally well. Blending together James’ life, his fathers and his grandfathers, you see how farming has changed through the years and how each of their relationships changes through time. I particularly enjoyed the brief features of some ‘Cumbrian celebrities’ such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. 
The whole play is narrated by James in 2014 and Kieran Hills performance was brilliant and had such charisma and charm that you warmed to instantly. David Fielder play’s James’ grandfather and perfectly portrays the older generation of farmer in his mannerisms and speech and has the audience in laughter with his bluntness, especially to those “bloody tourists”.
The animals of the play are brought to life through puppets who are controlled by a community cast. The puppetry really captured the movements and characters of the animals they were playing and it was the minute detail, such as the sheep dog nibbling at her leg, which brought the animals alive in such a way which made you almost forget they were puppets.
The setting whilst quite simplistic was incredibly effective. By having a large sky and the Lake District fells as silhouettes as the backdrop, allowed the visual effects to really capture the beauty of the sunsets, sunrises and the unruly Cumbrian skies. There was also the use of videos of local shows, the sheep and dogs in all weathers and the beautiful landscapes that gave for a much richer and insightful viewing.
To see this play at theatre by the lake, it is the perfect setting as when you leave the first thing you see is a Herdwick in a field staring back at you.
Reviewed on: 2nd April 2016
Reviewed by: Katie Chesworth
