Local writer, poet and performer Nathan Parker captivated audience members with his performance of The Land Beneath Our Feet at Claremont Community Gardens last week. Amber Archer went along and found a one man show that transcended generations.
Grown from his recent artist residency with LeftCoast (part of Blackpool’s Creative People and Places programme, funded by Arts Council England), Nathan Parker’s heartwarming play, The Land Beneath Our Feet, was created by gathering stories – and planting seeds – from local people’s everyday lives and exploring the impact of Blackpool’s overlooked green spaces. From allotments to community gardens – such as Claremont Community Garden, where we watched the play before it heads to Edinburgh Fringe next month – these spaces became the backdrop for stories of growth and connection.
The play begins as Ted steps into view – an elderly gentleman overseeing the garden before us. A simple set is made up of boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables, gardening tools and a bench Ted often returns to – it’s become a cherished companion in this character’s later life. Set in 2050, he begins to speak fondly of his late wife, the memories they shared together and how the garden he tenderly cares for reminds him of her each day.
Blending poignant and endearing storytelling with spoken word, the character’s stories mirrored those Nathan had listened to and learnt of during his residency, those of recovery, mental health, grief, friendship, climate change and connection – all while touching on Blackpool’s overlooked green spaces, with a sense of nostalgia running poetically through the performance.
Nathan subtly takes us through what life could look like in the not too distant future, as the narrative also touches on the rising tides of climate change and the ongoing challenges facing coastal towns – many of which Blackpool and its residents are already facing.
Each character unfolds with a complex personal story, all set within the shared space that slowly reveals itself as the backdrop to their intertwined stories. We laughed, we cried and left truly touched after learning how these characters’ lives and stories had overlapped through the beauty of gardening, fresh produce and growth – both in the garden and personally. The beauty of gardening became a story of growth – not just in the soil, but in the people who tended it.
Nathan puts it best when he says:
“What if we redefined what growth means?
What if life could be simpler, far simpler than it seems?
What if growing was as important as maths in year three?
What if it wasn’t a one-time project, it was a lifetime degree?” –
“What If”
The Land Beneath Our Feet showcased Blackpool’s green spaces, including: Stanley Park Bowling Greens, Claremont Park Community Centre Garden, Merseyside Meadow, Palatine Library and Bridge Farm Allotments in July before heading to Edinburgh Fringe next month.
