Young Roots
Shooting Fish theatre works with people from disadvantaged areas, providing theatre and performing arts education.
The young people focused their research on a collection of 300 letters to and from the Beechey family, which lost five sons in the First World War. With the help of The Friends of Lincoln Tanks, they also investigated the story of the design and manufacture of the first tanks for the British army, which were made by a Lincoln company.
Having read and discussed the Beechey family letters, the young people brainstormed sounds of the First World War – of factory work and agriculture as well as the battlefield – and used these to create a soundscape on mobile phones. They then went on to create a role play, taking the part of politicians and discussing a range of issues associated with women, work and politics during the period.
During this 10-month project, the participants took responsibility for different tasks including writing, acting, producing and directing their radio plays at the Siren FM studio. They also developed content for the project’s web page. An event was held at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, where there is an exhibition on the First World War