The Last Straw

Cast    6 - 3F   3M

Setting    Kitchen of a cluttered farmhouse

Harvest time in the Breadbasket of England and a politicised Amy returns from Uni to save the family farm. But events soon pile up against her: inclement weather, a market crash, and the dark shadow of family history repeating itself. Will the family motto ‘pulling together’ still hold strong? Will the joy of the wide open fields buoy them up? Or will conflicting ideologies expose irreconcilable differences?

As torrential rain flattens the wheat and threatens the daily bread that we all take for granted, father Keith admits that he's taken his ‘gambling’ on Futures one step too far. Meanwhile Amy's boyfriend Sudarshan, who has come to help, is distracted by the contrasting drought that is also devastating the crops back home in India.

Enter Zack the investment farmer whom Keith is contracted to. He brings bad news and, despite Amy standing up to him - the future of the farm hangs in the balance.

Drawn from interviews with 14 farmers in my home locality of Suffolk, I want to remind us how much we depend on our farmers for our survival and, in the 21st century, what enormous challenges they are up against.

All enquiries to Lucy Fawcett. Sheil Land Associates:
Email: lfawcett@sheilland.co.uk
Phone: 020 7405 9351

• Simon Godwin

  You have a good ear for dialogue and I like your vivid, strong context. Good luck with finding the right home for your excellent play

• Ian Rickson

  I really responded to its passion and unique flavour.

• Stephanie Cole

  What struck me most is – it would make a terrific film!