In 1830 farmhands and their families faced starvation. They rose up under the banner of the legendary Captain Swing to challenge landowners, church and government demanding a living wage.

Fearing revolution the authorities met them with brutality and suppression. This culminated in a show-trial in Winchester where many men from local villages were condemned to death or transportation.

Using music, poetry and song, thematic performance group !nVerse and poet Georgia Hilton have created a show to recount the story of the Swing Riots and the tragedy that befell villages throughout Hampshire.

The performance will include cello, piano, Northumbrian small pipes, clarinet, flute, spoken word and be punctuated by appearances from characters from history including Mr William Cobbett, the Duke of Wellington and Captain Swing himself.