THE iconic Fawley Power Station chimney that stood proudly overlooking the Solent was demolished on Halloween at dawn and its incredible story will be captured in a new play.
The production has been commissioned by the New Forest’s very own self producing theatre company Forest Forge Theatre.
Playwright David Lane, supported by an Arts Council grant, has been working in collaboration with the local theatre company to research its history and interview locals and ex workers involved in the power stations’ heritage to capture their stories.
ALSO READ: Photos and videos - the demolition of Fawley Power Station tower
It's a story of politics, industrial development, and people’s lives featuring a characterful chimney stack that is part-ghost, part-architecture, part-sage.
Forest Forge has been producing and touring plays based on local stories for 40 years and as CEO/ Creative Producer Sharon Lawless reflects: “This play feels very special, very poignant, it’s my home area and I have grown up seeing the chimney from wherever I have been on land or sea and always known that’s home.
"We are honoured that so many of the local community have shared their memories and this play will celebrate their heritage once the power station has been fully demolished, to live on into the future after it is gone. It’s fantastic to be working with David Lane who has a unique process of playwriting through immersing himself in extensive research and interviews and what is very exciting and unusual, is that we are starting this process with the director and set designer being involved right at the very beginning before the play is written.”
The plan is for the play to tour next year to the local communities of Hampshire and the company is delighted to be working in collaboration with the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst, Waterside Heritage Centre and Dr Will Pooley, advisor in creative histories at Bristol.
David Lane is also running several playwriting courses and masterclasses in November for budding writers to take part in on-line and at Forest Forge’s Theatre in Ringwood. See forestforgetheatre.co.uk for more details.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here