Have you a River Memory?

19 Mar 2024


WCT is planning a site-specific community theatre production in 2021 performed in, on or near the Wimborne River Allen (one of the purest chalk streams in Europe) or the River Stour. We welcome stories from people of all ages, and family stories about a favourite place, or times spent fishing, swimming, bird watching, picnicking, reflecting or just walking by the river. Please use the form below. What does being near the river mean to you? Read other people's stories and memories here [ninja_form id=1] If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state.  Otherwise your name will be published alongside your memory on the WCT website.


Why WCT members are focusing on our local rivers for the next production:                            
  • We asked ourselves: how much do we know about the river?  How often do we stop and look?  Who does look, and why?
  • We talked about the beneficial sense we feel of being close to water, seeing birds and the wildlife of the river bank, of pausing to look, and of spending time close to nature, and the importance now of people thinking about ecological issues.
Members agreed that we would create a River production which:
  • Reveals - what lies beneath the familiarity of our locality, in terms of history and ecology and explore threats to the East Dorset environment, & ‘to open people eyes and ears’ through performance and sound. We will explore how people with visual impairments will be able to explore this, through touch and hearing.
  • Connects and Develops - an existing sense of community felt by many WCT members, that Wimborne town represents a ‘heart’ situated in an ancient location alongside the rivers, a place inhabited since Neolithic times – and to encourage involvement of people who may live outside ‘mainstream’ cultural activities.
  • Explores some of the following issues:
  • appearance of otters and how they bring joy to observers
  • the sounds and behaviour of fish
  • local voices
  • making what we notice and prioritise accessible through theatre
  • tensions and differences with regards changes to our environment
Photo by Gill Horitz