Rude Mechanical Theatre Company

It's 1940 in the sleepy Sussex village of Jevington. George, a retired mechanic, cheerfully tends his vegetables (for the war effort) when his wife, Lil, comes out with a cup of tea, a piece of delicious upside-down cake, and… a letter from The War Office. "What's this?" he says. "What's this?". Above in a cotton wool sky, bombers set out across the channel. But clouds are menacing, bubbling up like ink blots above the Downs. Magpies gather, hopping in a circle on their twiggy legs. "What's this?" they cackle. "What's this?" And then, with clattering wings, they seem to screech, "Peck out his eyes! Peck out his eyes!" But it's not to George they croak. A raven, black, and sleek as silk, lands nearby on a branch, head held high and wings outstretched, bouncing like a tight-rope walker. The magpies lower their bodies subserviently. "Your time has come, Macbyrd," they croak. "Listen to the wind!"

Amidst the cabbages, broccoli and comic absurdity, a dark and menacing intrigue simmers as a power struggle breaks out amongst the birds.