We spoke to Sophie Utting, Artistic Director of the new Norwich physical theatre company, Vatic Theatre, about their new show Norwich Under the Water, exploring topical issues and why it is important for artists to share their climate stories.
Tell me a bit about Vatic Theatre and what your role is.
Vatic is a Norwich-based physical theatre company specialising in site-specific work. An important part of our process is working with local, underrepresented communities. I am Vatic’s Artistic Director and one of the performers in our latest show.
You are a part of Norwich Theatre’s artistic development programme. How did Norwich Theatre support you?
Norwich Theatre has offered wrap-around support in which they have helped with writing the Arts Council funding application for our first project, offered studio space in Stage 2 for rehearsals, helped us to liaise with other partners such as Norwich Cathedral, filmed the show and platformed it on Norwich Theatre’s digital stage, offered promotional support, practical help with running the show, and so much in between! They have been incredible, and I couldn’t have achieved the first project of this scope without them.
Why is it important that artists are supported in this way?
Starting up a new company can be daunting – there are many hurdles to overcome, and sometimes it’s easy to feel isolated. There’s so much to learn, so it’s extremely helpful to be supported by people in the industry who have a wealth of experience.
Where did the idea of Norwich Under Water come from? What inspired you to make the piece?
Tell me a bit about the show.
Norwich Under the Water is a project which came out of feeling frustrated about not knowing enough and not being able to do enough about climate change. During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time at home with my two very young children feeling helpless about the climate situation and wondering what Norwich would look like for them in the future. I wanted to learn more about the science and to also empower other people in the Norwich Over the Water community with this knowledge and offer them a platform to voice their feelings and opinions in response.
The show is a site-specific movement piece based in the grass quad and labyrinth of Norwich Cathedral cloisters. An exhibition of community artwork is displayed in the cloisters alongside the show and is an integral part of the immersive experience. Bill Vine’s original composition can be heard via wireless headphones, and it accompanies the audience through the exhibition and into the performance.
Describe the show in three words.
Beautiful, visceral, emotive.
What do you hope audiences get from watching your performance?
I hope that audiences can connect with the show and respond on an emotional level. I would love for the show to spark more conversations about the impact of climate change on Norwich and how we can come together to prepare and adapt to the inevitable changes that we face.
Why is it set in the Cathedral? Does this add another element, particularly as it is outdoors?
When the project was in its infancy, I was looking at flood maps of the local area, and I saw that with a 2-metre rise in the water level, the river Wensum was at the base of Norwich Cathedral. These maps do not take flood defences and interventions into account, but they do help us to see the potential impact of floods and rising sea levels should we not adapt and prepare. This made me think of Dunwich, Suffolk, which was once the capital of East Anglia but which – along with its six churches – was lost to the sea in 1286, and I started to wonder if Norwich Cathedral would one day be at risk of joining these ghostly underwater bells. Sophie Day, a Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia, has been sharing her research with us throughout the project, and she has been working with residents affected by coastal erosion and questioning how we make up for lost heritage. So, holding the performances at Norwich Cathedral – a place steeped in local heritage, and which is also a significant asset of the city – seemed like the perfect venue.
Performing outside in the grass quad of the cloisters allows the performers and audience to be in the elements and to be present on the site, acknowledging what is at stake. We really connect with the atmosphere, the wind, the sun and sometimes the rain! The audience – who go on a small journey within the performance space – can get close to the performers and to each other, and the show is experienced on a very human level, allowing us to acknowledge that we are in this together.
What was your process for creating the piece?
Through a series of community art workshops, our participants explored the local climate science provided by Sophie Day. This research and the responses from the participants inspired the professional cast who devised the show. This has resulted in a rich movement piece infused with meaning in every move. It is not a narrative-based piece, but there are narratives within each section.
Why is it important to tell stories about the local area?
Telling stories about the local area allows us to connect to where we live in different ways and learn. Norwich is home to both the UEA & Tyndall Centre – world-renowned institutions leading on climate science, so coupling local research with the people who live here enables rich and relevant stories to emerge. My hope is that this encourages empowerment and a deeper connection to the place.
How important is art in activism?
I think that art is essential in activism. It can be quite difficult for many people to connect to science when presented as graphs and data but exploring it through the arts allows for a more personal and emotional response. In my opinion, responding on this level is necessary if we are to take climate change seriously.
Why is it important that artists share climate stories?
Through exploring climate stories, artists offer a safe space for people to come together and explore how they feel about a subject which can be both overwhelming and divisive. It is an important counterbalance to fear-inducing headlines, and we are lucky in Norwich because there is an ever-growing network of artists who are making work in response to the climate crisis.
Norwich Under the Water is on between 11 -12 Aug. Tickets are limited so you will need to act fast. For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
Book now!