Swallows and Armenians – Chelsea Theatre

The truth behind a British children’s classic is revealed with the premiere of Swallows and Armenians at the Chelsea Theatre.

Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, set in the Lake District, was an instant success when published in 1930. However, the truth behind the inspiration for the story has been suppressed until now.

The actor-musician production by Karen Babayan is based on her book Swallows and Armenians, which she wrote after extensive research. An Anglo-Arminian, Babayan discovered the central characters in the book, a quintessential English family, the Walkers, were based on an Arminian family, called Altounyan. Close friends of Ransome, the family spent the summer of 1929 in Coniston with the author, sailing two boats on the lake.

This new production tells the story of the Altounyan family – English mother, Dora who was brought up in the Lake District with Ransome, her Northern Irish -Arminian husband, Earnest Altounyan and their children Taqui, Roger, Susie and Titty.

David Haller commands the stage as Ransome, with his sparing partner, Ernest Altounyan, played by Henry Avedian. When the photographs of Ransome and the real Altounyan family are shown near the end of the production, the physical likeness of these two actors to the men they play is striking.

Ransome grew up with Ernest’s wife, Dora, in England. She had turned down his proposal of marriage, causing the tension between the three adults in this story. This strong undercurrent is captured superbly by Haller, Avedian and Eleanor Turiansky.

The play opens with Titty Altounyan as a woman, living in Cumbria in the 1970s. Her frustration at being contacted by journalists, asking about Swallows and Amazons, is projected beautifully by Turiansky, who flips effortlessly between this character, Taqui, her teenage daughter and the cook Ada. Her portrayal of Dora between the 1930s and 1970s is beautifully done. A stunning performance.

Mikey Tsoukkas as the Altounyan’s young son, Roger, is brilliantly delivered. His movements and delivery of his hilarious lines bring pure joy to this production.

Anoush Kendrick plays the young Susie as well as the ‘pirate’ Pauline, and stands out in her role as Anoush, a survivor of the Armenian genocide who is the cook in the Altounyan’s hospital in Aleppo. Her movements are beautiful as she creates her dishes. This is a mesmerising performance.

The crux of the untold story comes as Ransome visits the family in Aleppo, and share’s his plan to adopt Titty – take her back to England for her education and to learn to fit into English life.

When Ransome describes the children as being ‘like savages’ needing the discipline of an English education, Ernest Altounyan defends his family, whom he loves and is determined to keep close.

The extreme, diverse beliefs in child rearing between the Altounans’ and Ransome are as topical today as they were in the 1930s, and the attitudes towards, and celebration of diversity, are thankfully different today.

Haller captures the essence of the English colonial, with the best intentions, but an arrogant belief that everyone should be like the English.

There is a very apt moment when Ransome is describing his love of macaroni cheese, and his bohemian days living in World’s End, the location for the premiere of this play.

There is a lot to think about after watching this production. However, the serious and very relevant themes are presented in a way that brings joy, through the original music by the playwright’s daughter, Persia Babayan-Taylor, who also directed this production.

All the actors are brilliant musicians, and the music envelops you, taking you from the cool, green English Lake District to the heat of Syria.

An eye-opening production that’s a joy to watch and listen to,

Swallows and Armenians: The Play – An Actor-Musician Production is at the Chelsea Theatre Sunday, June 21st and stage@Leeds, University of Leeds, June 27th.

Reviewer: Karen Morley-Chesworth

Reviewed: 20th June 2025

North West End UK Rating: