Lucy Farrant is the creative producer of Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly, a new play which vividly imagines three versions of the future, all impacted by the climate and nature crisis. Here, she looks forward to its premiere at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on Saturday – before a summer tour of the region
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Lucy Farrant. I am a freelance creative producer trading under the name of LJ Hope Productions. I wear a multitude of hats including being a theatre producer, creator, producer and host of events such as True Stories Live (TSL) and Tilted Women and I am also Director of Young Norfolk Arts Trust.
Are you Norwich born and raised? Or what has brought you to Norwich?
I was born in Sudbury, Suffolk and grew up on the Essex/Suffolk border in the Stour valley. I came to Norfolk a long time ago for work – my first career was as a solicitor, and I accepted a job with Mills & Reeve.
You’re involved with Norwich Arts Centre and the Tilted Women Reading Group?
Absolutely. I am on the Board of NAC and I am an Associate producer there. The Tilted Women Reading Group and associated ventures – such as our Festivals- are part of my creative portfolio.
How have you become involved with Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly – the return – and how does it differ from the 2022 version?
The 2022 version was a whole day event which was the culmination of a research and development project led by Steve Waters, the writer of PDB. Steve is professor of scriptwriting at UEA, and he devised the playlets and the format of the day within the ambit of that wider project. In July 22 on the hottest day of the year each playlet was performed separately with at least 30 minutes of reaction and discussion after each one. The panellists leading the discussions came from a range of backgrounds and included academics, writers, climate scientists, food producers and a government adviser on disasters. The reaction to that event was totally positive and the team, which included me, were encouraged to develop the idea and ensure that more people could experience both the drama and the opportunity for discussion.
Steve has updated the script so that now the format is one 50-minute drama, which includes the three scenarios, followed by reaction from a leading figure in the climate conversation and an opportunity for wider discussion and reflection with the audience which will last another 50 minutes.
How much are you looking forward to it being premiered at this year’s N&N Festival?
PDB was created in Norfolk and the inspiration for its setting is a Norfolk Farm. The project is being delivered by a team who are mostly based here, and we are very keen for Norfolk people to reflect on the issues raised by the drama. Some parts of Norfolk are very much on the frontline of the climate emergency and so it is extremely relevant for this new production to premiere here. The Festival gives us the opportunity to engage with a wide audience and to bring in two leading climate commentators and journalists: Patrick Barkham and Tom Heap, as first responders to the drama at UEA and at the Drill House, Great Yarmouth respectively. Our aim has always been to take this show to audiences who may not have the issues raised at the forefront of their minds and the Festival is a great chance to do just that. The first show at UEA will be very special in lots of ways – not least because the University has also been extremely supportive of the project as a whole.
What can people expect during the 100 minutes?
Here’s the copy: ‘What future do we want to live in? On a Norfolk farm, Martin and Becky seek to find their way through three futures: one of flood, one of fire, and one of drought. Does their estranged daughter Aimee hold the secret to survival? While, as I’ve said, PDB is firmly rooted in Eastern soil, the futures depicted have global resonance.’
Where can people find out more?
The NNF brochure is a good source of information, as is our website, phoenixdodobutterfly.com. We also have an Instagram account and a Facebook page.
What else are you working on this year?
I am continuing to work on TSL, Tilted Women and Young Norfolk Arts. I am producing a play called Spring and Other Things by an exciting young writer, Chloe Yates which will have two performances at NAC on 16th June. I have a few projects planned for the autumn which are in very early stages – so watch this space.
Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly will premiere at UEA Drama Studio, as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on Saturday May 11, at 7.30pm, before embarking on a summer tour of the region. PDB has been written by University of East Anglia-based dramatist Steve Waters (The Contingency Plan, Song of the Reeds) and is directed by theatre maker and activist Kay Michael (A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction, Sequel). It is based on the work of Rupert Read (Emeritus Associate Professor of Philosophy at UEA and co-director of the Climate Majority Project), and it is being produced by Lucy Farrant (LJ Hope Productions). It builds on the success of a previous day-long workshop held at Norwich Arts Centre in 2022, which received unanimous praise. The tour is being supported by an Arts Council England grant of £28,000, £4,500 from UEA and £450 from Norfolk County Council. For more information, visit phoenixdodobutterfly.com
List of performances:
May 11 – UEA drama studio, 7.30pm, featuring guest speaker Patrick Barkham nnfestival.org.uk
May 25 – The Drill House, Great Yarmouth, 7.30pm including speaker Tom Heap nnfestival.org.uk
June 7 – Angles Theatre, Wisbech, 7.30pm anglestheatre.co.uk
June 8 – Sheringham Little Theatre, 7.30pm ticketsolve.com
June 22 – Teles Patisserie, Yare Valley Farm, The Covey, Norwich NR14 7GD, 4pm eventbrite.co.uk
June 23 – First Light Festival, Lowestoft, 10.30am firstlightlowestoft.com
July 20 – Hotbed Festival, The Junction, Cambridge, 7pm. More information early June menagerie.uk.com
(Featured image of Lucy Farrant – by Pasco-Q Kevlin)
Leave a Reply