Flood drama reveals 'community heart' - playwright

Fishlake, which hits the stage in Doncaster this week, is based on stories told by people directly affected by the flooding in 2019

A playwright from Doncaster has drawn on his own experiences of the major flooding there six years ago for a new production to be performed in the city.

Jeremy Fletcher was among the residents who had to abandon their homes in the village of Fishlake in November 2019 after the River Don burst its banks.

Mr Fletcher said his play, Fishlake, to be premiered at Doncaster's Cast Theatre on Thursday and Friday night, was the true story of a village under water.

He said he wanted to write it to give people a "real perception" of the flooding experience: "It ruins your life for two years, but there are heartwarming stories, too, in the relief effort and neighbours and friends helping each other."

According to the 2011 census, Fishlake has 682 homes and, at the height of the crisis in November 2019, 90% of homes there were breached by dirty water.

At the time, the Environment Agency issued seven "threat to life" warnings for the River Don.

King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson both visited the area in the aftermath of the floods.

The devastation affecting people's homes was so great that many residents could only return to their properties two years later.

More than 750 properties were flooded in and around Doncaster in November 2019, with Fishlake one of the worst-hit areas

Mr Fletcher said he had recorded interviews with Fishlake residents to help shape the stories told within his play.

"I've moulded it together, but the stories have all come from the villagers," he said.

"I'm hoping we can shine a light on villages like this that still need protection from flooding.

"Hopefully, it's a reminder to everyone that we're still here and we still might need more work doing."

Jeremy Fletcher's house in Fishlake was flooded in 2019 and he used that experience as the inspiration for his play

As part of the play, members of the Fishlake community choir will also perform songs, and many of the singers experienced first-hand the devastation of the floods.

Pensioner Dorothy Whitehead, one member of the choir, said she still remembered staying up all night as the water levels rose.

"We heard this noise and it was like a tap running, and then at two in the morning it all went silent. We all turned to each other and said, 'what's changed?'," she recounted.

"My son went into the bedroom and said, 'this carpet's wet, mum'."

Ms Whitehead's husband, Harold, died before they could move back into their refurbished home in the village.

She admitted to being in "two minds" as to whether to get involved with the production.

"I wasn't sure I was fit to talk and sing about it, but the more I sing the songs it helps," she said.

"We are still a nice village. People of Fishlake are my family now."

Fishlake the play has been two years in the making, with rehearsals taking place in the village hall.

Mr Fletcher said it was an anxious moment ahead of the first run-through, but his fears that no-one would turn up were unfounded.

"I couldn't believe it. They just kept on coming," he said.

"We kept on putting extra seats out. Even the mayor of Doncaster turned up."

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, visited Doncaster to see the relief aid that was provided to flood victims in 2019

Moony Wainwright, a musician from South Yorkshire who wrote songs for the play, acknowledged that setting the right tone was tricky.

"There's no getting away from it, some of it is gloomy. Losing your life-long possessions is awful," he said.

"But I spoke to the villagers and they wanted a happy song, too, so we have that: celebrating what the village means to people."

Mr Fletcher said he hoped audiences would leave performances of his play feeling "warm-hearted".

"I want them to feel like they've seen the heart of the community here."

Fishlake will run for two nights at Doncaster's Cast theatre on 16 and 17 October, before further performances at Rotherham Civic on 28 October and at the Theatre Royal in Wakefield on 30 October.

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