Open-air theatre performances of “Swallows and Amazons” headline this summer’s lineup of events, supported by public access to historic boats and film screenings, along with adventure days and cruises.

Open-air theatre

Swallows and Amazons/Storyhouse.

No less than three open-air theatre productions of “Swallows and Amazons” are on for the next month, with the Neil Hannon musical version being performed in Oxford until 11th August, and in Brighton from 2nd-5th August, while a new version by Bryony Lavery is on in Chester until 26th August.

Film screenings and boats

Sophie Neville and Stephen Grendon in Swallows & Amazons (1974).

A special screening of the 1974 “Swallows and Amazons” film will show in Keswick this Saturday (28th July), with a special appearance and Q&A session from Sophie Neville, who played Titty Walker in the film. The dinghy Swallow that appeared in the film will also be available for sailing on Derwent Water by request. You can listen to a brief interview about it with Sophie on BBC Radio Cumbria here.

Nancy Blackett. Photo: Veronica Frenks.

Meanwhile Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht Nancy Blackett will be open to visitors in Harwich on Sunday (29th July), as part of the town’s annual Sea Festival, before heading on a members’ cruise to London and back. Nancy Blackett appeared as Goblin in Arthur Ransome’s books “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea” and “Secret Water”, and will also be at Woodbridge in Suffolk for the Maritime Woodbridge festival on 8th & 9th September.

Adventure days and cruises

And finally, the annual Swallows and Amazons Adventure Days return to Lake District in August, with three days scheduled at the Glendridding Sailing Centre, while the Coniston Launch is operating its regular Swallows and Amazons Cruises on Coniston Water until 26th September.