Acclaimed theatre company, Eastern Angles are returning to Peterborough with Dark Earth, a magical and atmospheric new production performed at Flag Fen. Written, directed and produced by Eastern Angles’ professional creative team, the cast will be made up of performers drawn from the local community including members of Mask Theatre group. The play will be staged in a special covered auditorium with full stage, lighting, sound and tiered seating in the grounds of the historic archaeological site.
Dark Earth by Scottish playwright Forbes Bramble, is set in the Fens during the 1600s and tells of the drainage of the land and the story of two young lovers against the background of the discovery of a disturbing archaeological find. The play shows how the expertise of Dutch engineers was used to transform the landscape in an enthralling play that sets priest against churchgoers, landlords against tenants and engineers against eel-catchers.
Eastern Angles are delighted with the level of local support for this new venture. Produced in association with Vivacity, the production has been enthusiastically supported by local community performers all keen to get involved. This exciting and unique project will become an example of how Peterborough’s community performers and professional theatre-makers can successfully come together to create fantastic new work.
Director Naomi Jones said, “The atmosphere is the rehearsal room is great – very lively and positive. We have attracted a really good mix of actors, some with lots of experience of the local amateur dramatic scene, others are pupils from local schools like Jack Hunt. It’s a really good dynamic.”
“These people are telling an atmospheric story all about their local area, and some cases their ancestors. It gives the whole project a very special feel.”
Naomi Jones has directed many shows for Eastern Angles, including Return to Akenfield, Lincoln Road, The Long Way Home and most recently Private Resistance. Formerly with Out of Joint, for whom she directed Flight Path, she has also worked extensively for Oxford School of Drama and seen her productions performed at Hampstead Theatre Studio, Clerkenwell Theatre and Southwark Playhouse.
Writer Forbes Bramble worked with the prestigious new writing venue The Royal Court in the 1960s before training to become an architect. Based in Suffolk, his East Anglian connections led him to write this historical new play set in the Fens.
The show will also include puppetry from Polly Beestone (Spielgel Tent, Unicorn Theatre, Eastern Angles) and music by Chris Warner (RSC, The Lyric Theatre Belfast, Grand Opera House in Belfast).
Under the banner Platform Peterborough, Eastern Angles have been creating and performing nationally-acclaimed new theatre work inspired by the people of Peterborough for the last four years. Highlights have included the play Our Nobby, which featured the city’s best-loved tramp, Lincoln Road, based on stories from people living in the city, I Heart Peterborough, which took the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm and Parkway Dreams a critically-acclaimed musical documentary based on interviews with Peterborough Development Corporation employees.
Dark Earth will be performed at Flag Fen
from September 12th – 15th and from September 19th – 22nd.
Preview tickets £8 (Thursday 12th Sept)
Tickets: £12 (£10)
Vivacity Heritage Pass Holders £8
Ring: 01473 211498 or book online www.easternangles.co.uk
