RedCape Theatre
Like The Idiot Colony our starting point is true stories; stories from the communities that are beginning to disappear from the east coast of England - Britain’s first climate change refugees. In early June RedCape went to Happisburgh where Beach Road is falling into the sea. We met an impassioned, battle weary campaign leader, a lighthouse trustee with a vertiginous overview, had a lesson in coastal erosion drawn in the sand, visited the hanging gardens of Clifftops B&B (closed for business) and, as the tide lashed in, walked amongst the disintegrating sea defences. It was a fascinating few days, both very moving and rather bleak at times; fish and chips were consumed. We took a lot of video footage, a barrage of photos, copious notes and recorded hours of interviews. "I always wanted a sea view - you have to be careful what you wish for round here" Happisburgh Resident During our three-week work period at South Street Arts Centre, Reading, RedCape are delighted to collaborate again with Andrew Dawson and Sabina Netherclift (The Idiot Colony), and are thrilled to be joined by New York playwright Solveig Holum and designer Tina Bicat (Critics Circle Drama Award for Design). Combining their successful mix of beautiful visual theatre, physical storytelling, new writing and a sense of humour 1 Beach Road will uncover people's stories hidden beneath the statistics and the rubble. What does it mean to lose your home from under your feet? In Happisburgh, since 2004, 24 metres of land and 26 homes along Beach Road have vanished. 80 year-old Phyllis lost her retirement bungalow. Diana & Gill's B&B's garden disappeared. One family home was re-valued by their bank. It is now worth £1. Government policy means that they will receive no compensation for their losses. Every night as they sleep in their beds residents listen to the crash of the waves and the slow thumps of land falling into the sea.  |
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