Swallows and Amazons (2016 film) an old-fashioned relic. And the grey, blustery Lake District weather could hardly be more British". Swallows and Amazons (2016 film) Swallows and Amazons is a 2016 British family adventure film directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Andrea Gibb, based on Arthur Ransome's children's novel of the same name, first published in 1930. The film stars Andrew Scott, Rafe Spall, Kelly Macdonald, Jessica Hynes, and Harry Enfield. Principal photography began on 21 June 2015 in the Lake District. The film, which was released on 19 August 2016, is the third audiovisual adaption of the novel; the first being a 6-part
Swallows and Amazons by Catherine Poole, Peggy by Jackie Swainson and Uncle Jim by Nicholas Le Prevost. The Royal National Theatre started developing a musical version of "Swallows and Amazons" in 2007. Helen Edmundson wrote the book and lyrics while The Divine Comedy's frontman Neil Hannon wrote the music. The musical premiered at the Bristol Old Vic on 1 December 2010 and played at the Vaudeville Theatre, in London's West End, from 15 December 2011, prior to going on tour around the UK from January to May 2012. The production features adults playing the children and has been received favourably by reviewers. Swallows