UNLIKELY friendships and a woman’s journey through life are explored in As the Crow Flies.

Salisbury Playhouse and Pentabus Theatre Company present Hattie Naylor’s new play, which is being performed in The Salberg at Salisbury Playhouse from Tuesday to Saturday, April 8 as part of a national rural tour.

It focuses on the story of Beth who has relocated to the country and is struggling to come to terms with her recent divorce.

She is visited in her garden by a mischievous crow named Alfie.

The play is based on the true story of a woman who struck up an unlikely friendship with a wounded crow.

Beth and Alfie are played by Natalia Campbell and Tom Brownlee with live music performed by Imelda Warren-Green, who plays the younger Beth.

“Beth is a woman in her midforties and has been in a partnership for 20 years and then it suddenly stops and through the play you find out what happens,”

explains Natalia.

“The play goes through the whole transition of spring to spring so it takes place within a year, and it is just about the development of that - where she’s at, who she is and the crow, Alfie, and what happens to him.”

“It is just about how life and experiences can change you.”

The play also looks at concepts of time and how we perceive them.

Natalia continues: “Beth is a bit broken like the bird. It is just finding yourself again - a right of passage but the other way.”

She says audiences can expect “humour, a moving story, the unexpected and great music” from As the Crow Flies.

“It will be a entertaining and thoughtful night.”

Natalia says she is looking forward to performing in the Playhouse, adding: “I have always wanted to work here and am really excited to be working at Salisbury.”

As the Crow Flies is directed by Elizabeth Freestone with music by composer and musical director Dom Coyote.

Director Elizabeth says: “As the Crow Flies is a very original show.

A beautiful story, live music and songs, classy design, top-notch performers – and a very tall man playing a very naughty crow. I hope it will delight audiences with its theatricality as well as exploring fascinating ideas about our experiences of time.”

For tickets call 01722 320333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com. Following its run at the Playhouse, As the Crow Flies will also be performed at Chilmark Village Hall on April 13 and Newton Tony Memorial Hall on April 14.