
The New Land girls
Over the summer of 24’, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Women & Theatre on an outdoor, environmentally focused community piece performed in Warley Woods, Birmingham. I worked alongside a freelance Set Designer who also acted as the Stage Manager for the piece and I contributed to the creative and logistical design and making of the small-scaled production. The piece devised in autumn of 2024 explored the relationship between land and women written by Women and Theatre but co-created with the community based cast being women of Sandwell. The immersive style of theatre followed a group of women who come together and create a new land army taking from the original principles of equality and sustainbility of the army back during the second world war. In the world of ramblers, gardeners, urban planners they rediscover what we take from the land and how we give back to the land considering the future within it.
| script analysis
| rehearsal support
| prop sourcing
| design assistant
| digital modelling
| set dressing
| hand sewing
| script analysis | rehearsal support | prop sourcing | design assistant | digital modelling | set dressing | hand sewing
Sustainability was at the heart of the entire process- every element used for set dressing was re-used, recycled or repurposed, reinforcing the production’s commitment to remaining ecologically responsible. The natural setting of the Woods became integral part of the performance and design to blur the line between stage an enviroment in this outdoor immersive play which I saw first hand throughout rehearsals as well as during the performances. This project deepened my understanding of sustainable theatre practises and the powerful role design can play in connecting audiences with both performance and place with adaptable, imagination play.