In March 2017 I began work with the lovely team behind The Storm Officer to create a work-in-progress piece based on The Extreme Weather Archive at Nottingham University, and more specifically to explore verbatim testimony surrounding the Cumbrian floods of 2015. This initial version of the show performed to excellent response at Lakeside Arts, Nottingham and Kirkgate Arts in Cockermouth, Cumbria.
In July 2018 the team reassembled and we created a new, fully realised version of The Storm Officer, which then embarked on a UK tour with dates in Nottingham, Chesterfield, Ledbury, Caernarfon, Aberystwyth and Cornwall.
In February 2020 The Storm Officer had another outing, performing at venues across the Midlands, including Theatre Deli in Sheffield, and village halls in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
Penned by poet and writer Matt Black, this piece combines multi-role playing, live music and song, poetry, big characters, comedy and pathos to create a picture of a very British community reacting to natural disaster...
Wild storms, hurricanes and flooding; The Storm Officer tells the tale of one town’s struggle when faced with the realities of extreme weather and the impact of climate change.
Inspired by real-life stories of Storm Desmond in 2015 and tales of bizarre and dramatic weather events from the last thousand years, this show invites you to explore what it means to still call somewhere home in the face of adversity...
Funny, touching and bold, The Storm Officer features individual and community stories of courage and bravery, interwoven with original live music and song.
For more of an idea of the show, take a look at the images below...
Images courtesy of Chris Webb Photography
"I had the pleasure of working with Anna on three UK tours of The Storm Officer. She is a capable and committed actress and musician. Most impressive is her tenacity in ensuring her work and the production as a whole are of the highest possible standard. This includes working in great and determined detail in the rehearsal room, as well as preparing with diligence and care outside of the room. Anna is an imaginative, careful and intelligent actress who offers ideas, generosity, passion and ability."
Martin Berry, Director, The Storm Officer