Dark Earth: Our Girl In Peterborough

After working for Eastern Angles as their girl in Peterborough for nearly four years, I often have a thousand reasons to count myself lucky but with the latest production, 'Dark Earth' I have had my faith in art and its absolute mastery of getting to the pinpoint of the matter, rekindled and restored.

Dark Earth is a play set in the 17^th century at a time when the Fens was still considered a place of isolation and magic, some would say that this  is still the case. However the play written wonderfully by Forbes Bramble rediscovers the fens of that time and brings it to life and presents a number of themes, from loss of livelihood, love, tragedy along with the unearthing of  hidden heritage that lies  beneath our feet, taking it out of the very mud of the land into the light.  He is able to do this through the questions that the characters ask in the play, throughout their stories and these often unearth bigger philosophical arguments such as  can there be a  consistence of science and religion? or is progress always what local communities desire and if not why?

This last debate intrigues me and it is shown very clearly in the play by how the villagers  choose to  fighting against the possible drainage of their local fen. The play could almost  be called if  a Hollywood blockbuster  'Villagers Vs Partners', 100's of years of tradition against the onslaught of capitalism and progress'. The ways in which the Villagers protest against the drainage would  be considered acts of vandalism and even shock tactics in today's climate but their intentions could correlate with an ongoing issue that still affects the Peterborough area and the countryside as a whole.

At present there is a will to build a solar farm just outside of Peterborough in a nearby village called Thorney and on farmland called 'Morris Fen', this is just one of three proposed sites. There are clear and somewhat compelling reasons on both sides, the park could generate money which is much needed at present, on the other hand, plans for  Morris Fen  have been delayed because the site  has revealed sections of raised ground which could be Bronze Age barrows - a term for burial sites, so this could be land of exceptional historical worth  and if  some of  Peterborough's other heritage sites are anything to go by then, they  could be equal to both Flag Fen and the 'Must Farm' Boats.  Dark Earth discusses the very beginning of archaeology and its potential impact on future generations and could almost be an echo that is pulsing through to today. The way in which Dark Earth investigates the beginning of the popularity of archaeology or programmes like Time Team is subtle yet even more meaningful by it being staged at Flag Fen, which is such a gem that it's been cited as one of the most amazing places to visit in Britain.

There is a more passionate yet subdued reasoning that the local community do not want to lose this land around them and that they want to keep their way of life safe.

I often have to explain this to people when talking about the village I am from, which is just outside of Peterborough, the community there want to be a village and not a city and to enjoy a quieter exsisitence lthat comes with that and for some families that have lived, loved and worked  there for over 100 years this is not a passing fad but almost in the blood. This metaphysical feeling which is almost beyond our comprehension is  very difficult to describe to others that don't experience it or need to make budget decisions and it can be so personal and even angry in its passion that poets like John Clare could not help to write about it and tried to define it.

After reading the play with over 30 local community performers at our first rehearsal I was struck as to not only how Dark Earth represents so beautifully  this  area often shrouded in myth but also how it can be hard for those who follow a natural philosophy to not get caught up within the wheel of progress and all its negatives and benefits. Also through the other rehearsals, I came to realise that as a society today we have a healthy appreciation of those who came before and try to preserve and learn from them through objects and archaeology, again another reason for me to feel lucky that I am around now to be part of that.

If you want to see a play that throws open these themes and may even ask you to choose a side, all in the backdrop  of  Flag Fen a jewel to rival Stonehenge, then please check out the Eastern Angles website.