New Play Commissioned for 70th Anniversary of Historic Flood
- By Natalie Hewis
- 28th March 2023 10:10 AM
2023 marks 70 years since the well-documented flood of 1953 which saw devastation across many parts of Lowestoft and the East Coast. To mark this event and look ahead to the town’s future relationship with the sea in the face of climate change, we are leading a community project that will see the commission of a new live drama written by Lowestoft based playwright, John Hales.
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said: “It’s important that these powerful events are recognised and remembered, sharing community memories and experiences. I’m looking forward to seeing how these creative activities and dramatic performances can bring a shared understanding of the impact of this devastating flood and the lessons we learn as we look to protect the historic places we love in the face of climate change.”
Flooding Back to a Resilient Future has seen a series of free workshops and community activities take place over the last few months to collect stories and reminiscences from people who remember the major flooding events of 1953 and 2013. Working with local schools the project has also provoked children and young people in the town to consider the impacts of climate change and imagine a future flood and how that may impact them.
Personal stories, photographs, archive material and creative responses to flooding and climate change are being drawn together to inspire a brand-new play written and developed by John Hales. Nominated for a BAFTA ‘Breakthrough Brit’ in 2014 for his feature film Freak of Nature John’s stage plays include the The Response (Seagull Theatre, SOHO Theatre) and a varied career of writing, directing, acting, and community theatre work both locally and nationally.
The Production – professionally produced and performed in collaboration with Spinning Wheel Theatre company on the Marina Stage - will dramatize a future flooding event in Lowestoft focusing on community reliance and drawing on past experiences in the town.
Alongside performances of this new work scheduled for July 2023, there will be an exhibition of archive materiel relating to the 1953 flood and creative works from the community generated throughout the project.
Emma Butler Smith, Marina Theatre Chef Executive: ‘This project will enable us to engage with a broad cross-section of Lowestoft’s community both commemorating historical events and looking forward to a future by the sea in face the potential impacts of Climate change. John Hales is a fantastic writer who we have worked with on projects in the past, notably when he directed our community co-production of Oliver! in 2018 so it will be wonderful to premier a new play by him on our stage.’
This project is funded by Historic England through the Lowestoft Heritage Action Zones, in partnership with East Suffolk Council.
Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development, said: “The tidal surge of 1953 took a devastating toll on much of the east coast. Lives were lost, properties destroyed, and its impact was felt acutely in our coastal towns.
“It's important that we commemorate and learn from these momentous events of our past in order to look forward.
“It will be fascinating to see those memories interpreted for the stage with the creative input of people living locally 70 years on.”
Do you remember the major flooding events of 1953 or 2013? If you have photos, videos, news cuttings or an interesting story to share, the Marina Theatre would like to hear from you. Send any submissions to community@marinatheatre.co.uk