By South Downs National Park
The podcast currently has 10 episodes available.
“Wild Garlic”, River Ouse, Sarah Hehir
Through charming rhyme and rhythm, Wild Garlic charts the close bond of a father and daughter- from the childish glee of springtime swims to the grown woman mourning his death, the river and its flora and fauna provide a comforting constant.
Credits
Written by Sarah Hehir
Read by Madeleine Gray, Sidney Kean and Sarah Hehir
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
With special thanks to Gill Corris and U3A, the people of Lindfield, The Bent Arms Pub and Lindfield Life Community Magazine
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Sarah Hehir
Sarah has been a writer, dramatist and a drama teacher for over 20 years. She performed at Kosovo’s International Literary Festival in 2019, and in 2013 she won the BBC Writer’s Prize for a radio drama Bang Up where the North Downs became part of the narrative and was broadcast as the afternoon drama on Radio 4. An accomplished writer for Theatre, Film, Radio and TV she was recently chosen as the commissioned poet on the Turner Prize ‘Connect together’ a project using words and ideas collected through community workshops to create an epic poem about the journey from London to Margate.
“Cement Bags”, River Adur, Sara Clifford
Ever passed a disused building and wondered about what stories it had to tell? Cement Bags brings to life the hustle and bustle of the Cement Factory at Beeding. Meet the women who worked there on the telephone exchange and listen to their lives in parallel to the building, from its glory days as an industrial hub to its poignant decline.
Credits
Written by Sara Clifford
Read by Jean Trend
Recorded by Oliver Cherer
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority
With special thanks to Dylan Moore and Ian Weild
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Sara Clifford
Lead writer/Dramaturg for Full Harvest
www.saraclifford.com
Sara works as a writer, director and community artist, and has written over forty plays including commissions for the Soho Theatre, York Theatre Royal & Nottingham Playhouse. She has been Writer in Residence at the University of Brighton and at Chichester Festival Theatre, and her work has been produced in France, Italy, Guadeloupe and Hong Kong. Her play A Thousand Days, was a Finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn award.
As Artistic Director of her company, Inroads ( www.inroads.org.uk) she works with local communities to write place-based work rooted in their stories, and has developed six site-specific participatory pieces, with a new show coming for 2022, Two Pairs of Eyes, seed funded by Farnham Maltings.
In 2019, she was Writer in Residence for the South Downs Park/ Applause, and the resulting show, Cherry Soup, toured rural venues across the Park. She is the lead writer on Full Harvest, the project which developed from this.
“Nature’s Storehouse”, River Meon, Lucy Flannery
Exploring the history and mythology of the South Downs as a man uses his love of running to work towards recovery both physically and mentally.
Credits
Written by Lucy Flannery
Read by John Knowles
Recorded by Oliver Cherer
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Lucy Flannery
Lucy’s writing career has included: working with Alison Stead and Roy Hudd on Like A Daughter, a drama for BBC Radio 4, being commissioned to write an original play, Tomorrow Will Be Too Late, as part of the D-Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration and writing Nan a one-minute monologue created during lockdown for Ink Festival. She has worked on the Chichester Festival Theatre’s playwriting course and most recently as Writer-In-Residence at the University of Plymouth. She is both an artistic practitioner and an FE College Governor, she is experienced in working with young people.
“Celestial Navigation”, River Ouse, Sara Clifford
A poignant tale of family relationships, the intergenerational bond between a young woman and her grandfather is explored against the backdrop of a busy Ferry town. A reminder that we don’t know what we have until it’s gone.
Credits
Written by Sara Clifford
Read by Madeleine Gray and Sidney Kean
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
With special thanks to the people of Newhaven and Andrew Bishop.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Sara Clifford
Lead writer/Dramaturg for Full Harvest
www.saraclifford.com
Sara works as a writer, director and community artist, and has written over forty plays including commissions for the Soho Theatre, York Theatre Royal & Nottingham Playhouse. She has been Writer in Residence at the University of Brighton and at Chichester Festival Theatre, and her work has been produced in France, Italy, Guadeloupe and Hong Kong. Her play A Thousand Days, was a Finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn award.
As Artistic Director of her company, Inroads ( www.inroads.org.uk) she works with local communities to write place-based work rooted in their stories, and has developed six site-specific participatory pieces, with a new show coming for 2022, Two Pairs of Eyes, seed funded by Farnham Maltings.
In 2019, she was Writer in Residence for the South Downs Park/ Applause, and the resulting show, Cherry Soup, toured rural venues across the Park. She is the lead writer on Full Harvest, the project which developed from this.
“Meanderings”, River Cuckmere, Rosanna Lowe
An elderly woman reflects on her meandering life as it mirrors the bends and breaks of the River Cuckmere. Life is never quite what it seems on the surface and her winding journey finds diversity in the landscape and its inhabitants, proving that where there is life there is hope.
Credits
Written by Rosanna Lowe
Read by Jean Trend, Grant Brookes, Odi Oquosa and Rosanna Lowe
Recorded by Oliver Cherer
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
The final story mixes some verbatim material from interviews with fictional text. A very special thanks to Ollie Barber and Odi Okaka Oquosa for sharing their very personal stories. Thanks too to all the members of the Arts on Prescription creative writing group.
Thanks too to Ann Bloomfield of Active Arts and Chrys Brookes, Anthony Elvin, Jon Pratty of MSL Projects, Tara Reddy of Arts on Prescription, Phil Potter and Craig, Sarah Janes, Chris, Bill and Alice Lowe and Rosie Lee. And, of course, the rivers.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Rosanna Lowe
Rosanna is an experienced writer, director and performer. Pieces she has written/directed have been performed in theatres in the UK, France, Malaysia and the US and include the devised show Hummingbirds at the Young Vic, nominated for a Total Theatre Award in Edinburgh, Chester Tuffnut at Polka Theatre, The Bacchae in the Cultural Olympiad and co-writing/co-directing portmanteau feature film London Unplugged. She has written two climate change radio plays, winning Radio 4 and IRDP awards. Her work often focuses on history, people and place and ranges from sketch-writing for TV series Horrible Histories to co-writing Brighton The Graphic Novel. She has worked in travel writing, winning awards with the Royal Geographical Society Award and The Times. She lived in Guatemala during its civil war and wrote Volcanoland, a travel narrative, collecting extraordinary stories and testimonies about the war and its aftermath. She was the commissioned writer for Goonhilly Village Green, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the nature, heritage and community of Goonhilly Downs. She is currently the Lead Storyteller for interactive children’s show Printer’s Playtime. She has worked on various heritage and engagement projects with arts organisation MSL, creating a series of audio story poems called Ordinary Extraordinary inspired by Hastings residents. Rosanna has run numerous creative writing projects, often with children, but also with mothers from Holloway Prison and with Creative Future. She currently runs writing for wellbeing sessions for Arts on Prescription, which caters for people, like herself, with mental or physical health inequalities.
“The Baptism”, River Rother, Theo Toksvig-Stewart
A dark and unexpected tale about a young girl who meets a mysterious figure by the River. A modern-day myth about being careful what you wish for.
Credits
The Baptism was written by Theo Toksvig-Stewart
Read by Madeleine Gray and Sidney Kean
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
With special thanks to the staff and students at Alton College.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series
Theo Toksvig-Stewart – focusing on the River Rother
Theo is a dyslexic writer and actor. His play Endless Second was shortlisted for the Holden Street Theatre Award and the Sit Up Award at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe. The play transferred to the Park Theatre and Pleasance Islington as part of each venue’s ‘Best of the Fringe’ season and was commissioned as an audio drama for BBC Radio 4.
In 2020 Theo was commissioned by Warts and All Theatre to write an adaptation of Robyn Hood developed with children in care in Wellingborough. He was part of the BBC Writersroom Drama Room Scheme 2019/2020 and the 2021 Minack Emerging Playwrights Programme.
“My Mother”, River Lover, River Arun, Rosanna Lowe,
A man reflects on the ebbs and flows of his complex relationship with his mother. He recalls his mother’s close bond with the water, her struggles with mental health and alcohol dependency, and her joyous moments of freedom in nature. A tale of love and loss on the River Arun.
Credits
Written by Rosanna Lowe
Read by Patrick Kealey
Recorded by Oliver Cherer
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
A very special thanks to Lena and Darren MacAdam for sharing their very personal story.
And to all the members of the Arts on Prescription creative writing group.
Thanks too to Alison Williams-Bailey of Root and Branch Theatre, Andrew Ogierman of Aspire, Sue Groom, Anna Atkinson and the Consolations group, Gareth Williams of the Environment Agency, Margaret Sheehy and Jon Pratty of MSL Projects, Tamsin Payne and Mel Tudno-Jones, Philippa Anne Reed of Reed Maxfield, Rohan Heath, Holly Barber of Eco Monkey, Tara Reddy of Arts on Prescription, Chris, Bill and Alice Lowe, Rosie Lee and Jane Sowter. And, of course, the rivers.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Rosanna Lowe
Rosanna is an experienced writer, director and performer. Pieces she has written/directed have been performed in theatres in the UK, France, Malaysia and the US and include the devised show Hummingbirds at the Young Vic, nominated for a Total Theatre Award in Edinburgh, Chester Tuffnut at Polka Theatre, The Bacchae in the Cultural Olympiad and co-writing/co-directing portmanteau feature film London Unplugged. She has written two climate change radio plays, winning Radio 4 and IRDP awards. Her work often focuses on history, people and place and ranges from sketch-writing for TV series Horrible Histories to co-writing Brighton The Graphic Novel. She has worked in travel writing, winning awards with the Royal Geographical Society Award and The Times. She lived in Guatemala during its civil war and wrote Volcanoland, a travel narrative, collecting extraordinary stories and testimonies about the war and its aftermath. She was the commissioned writer for Goonhilly Village Green, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the nature, heritage and community of Goonhilly Downs. She is currently the Lead Storyteller for interactive children’s show Printer’s Playtime. She has worked on various heritage and engagement projects with arts organisation MSL, creating a series of audio story poems called Ordinary Extraordinary inspired by Hastings residents. Rosanna has run numerous creative writing projects, often with children, but also with mothers from Holloway Prison and with Creative Future. She currently runs writing for wellbeing sessions for Arts on Prescription, which caters for people, like herself, with mental or physical health inequalities.
“A Good Place to Cry”, River Cuckmere, A.G.G
We follow a young man at a crisis point in his life. One traumatic moment forces him to escape the city and find solace and hope in the landscape of the South Downs
Credits
Written by A. G. G.
Read by Daniel Nero
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
With special thanks to all at ONE80 Club & the TLA Project.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
A. G. G.
A. G. G. is a writer and essayist from London. Through literature, he explores a variety of themes including masculinity, belonging, trauma, love, crime and rehabilitation. Photography and filmmaking, are additional mediums he employs as forms of expression. After completing his education he went on to work in a variety of creative roles, most recently as a workshop facilitator addressing gang culture and youth violence across the Capital. He recently signed his first book deal, which is due to be published later this year.
“Dear Wellsbourne/ Brighton Rocks”, River Wellesbourne, Merrie Joy Williams
Dear Wellsbourne is a series of seven sevenling poems addressed directly to the stream; interspersed with a short story about local residents, called ‘Brighton Rocks. Mirroring the intermittent pattern of the stream itself, Brighton Rocks explores how two friends deal with the challenges they have faced in the past and how to live the lives they desire.
Brighton Rocks explores how two friends deal with the challenges to live the lives they desire. Inspired by the culverted Wellesbourne stream as a metaphor for their stories and the issues we force underground - but just like the stream, these things rise again, encouraging us to gradually voice and heal them.
Credits
Written by Merrie Joy Williams
Read by Rosanna Lowe and Merrie Joy Williams
Recorded by Oliver Cherer
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
If you have been affected by any of the issues reflected in this story, there is support and helpline information available from the following organisations: Stonewall at Stonewall.org.uk, or The Survivors Trust at thesurvivorstrust.org.
With thanks to the following for local knowledge and contacts: Dan Robertson of Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton and Hove; James Burt; Dr Matt Pope; Dr Bramwell; Naomi Foyle of Waterloo Press; ONCA and Kin’d & kin’d; Sara Clifford; Rosanna Lowe as well as David Morley and Zoe Brigley-Thompson, whose workshop inspired the sevenling form.
Not forgetting other residents of Brighton and Sussex, with a very special thank you to Paul Smith and ‘Becks’, for the privilege of sharing and adapting their stories in ‘Brighton Rocks’.
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Merrie Joy Williams
Merrie Joy Williams is a poet, novelist and editor. She was shortlisted for the 2020 Bridport Poetry Prize, longlisted for the 2020 National Poetry Competition, and is a winner of The Poetry Archive’s ‘Wordview 2020’ competition, permanently featured on their website. She is the recipient of a London Writers Award, and Arts Council England awards for poetry and fiction.
Merrie is passionate about collaborations, as well as residencies and commissions, which help keep her writing practice fresh and evolving. She was a poet-in-residence with MMU Special Collections and Manchester Poetry Library, who are currently releasing an illustrated broadside of one of her poems. Her most recent residency was with Historic England, in partnership with Spread the Word, commissioned to research and write one of their High Street Tales (Woolwich).
Merrie has read or discussed her work in various places, including The Southbank Festival, The Seren Cardiff Poetry Festival, and BBC Radio. Poems been published in Poetry Wales, The Interpreter’s House, The Good Journal, and elsewhere. Her debut collection is Open Windows (Waterloo Press, 2019).
Episode 10
“Perspective”, River Itchen, Lucy Flannery
A reminder that many people have walked before us! A clever poem interweaving lives past and present who have interacted with the landscape. From modern-day runners, to the past battalions of Cromwell’s men, to the father and daughter who find connection and peace by the River.
Credits
Written and read by Lucy Flannery
Edited by Elliot Lampitt
Commissioned and produced by Applause in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are nine more podcasts for you to enjoy so please subscribe to this series.
Lucy Flannery
Lucy’s writing career has included: working with Alison Stead and Roy Hudd on Like A Daughter, a drama for BBC Radio 4, being commissioned to write an original play, Tomorrow Will Be Too Late, as part of the D-Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration and writing Nan a one-minute monologue created during lockdown for Ink Festival. She has worked on the Chichester Festival Theatre’s playwriting course and most recently as Writer-In-Residence at the University of Plymouth. She is both an artistic practitioner and an FE College Governor, she is experienced in working with young people.
The podcast currently has 10 episodes available.