Classic children's story by the lakeside at Ferry Meadows

Recently this has included performing in the basement of Serpentine Green Shopping Centre with their Christmas show ‘Nativity Blues’, in a marquee at Flag Fen with their Fenland drama ‘Dark Earth’ and outside Peterborough Cathedral with a medieval mystery play.

Now, Eastern Angles are back in the city with their latest show ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea’. Based on one of Arthur Ransome’s classic children’s books, the production will be performed from July 13 to 17 in a pop-up theatre tent on the Lakeside at Nene Park.

This will be the second outing for this adaption by acclaimed Nottingham playwright, Nick Wood. Eastern Angles’ first staged the show in 2008 in a marquee on Ipswich Waterfront where the show was a sell-out success and gained critical acclaim.

“I’m so excited by this show because it is the one Arthur Ransome story that depicts a real adventure, rather than a pretend one involving make-believe pirates,” says artistic director Ivan Cutting. “In ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea’ the children accidently sail out to sea from the Suffolk coast, the waves are 10 feet tall and their lives really are in danger. I’ve always loved the classic piece of parenting advice dished out by the children’s father. The Swallows write to their dad asking permission to go sailing. He replies with the famously blunt phrase ‘Better drowned that Duffers, if not Duffers won’t drown’ which always makes me smile!”

Teresa Wood, Head of Visitor Services at Nene Park, said; “With so much water around, Ferry Meadows provides the perfect setting for such a play. As well as the play Eastern Angles will be offering drama workshops to around 100 local school children hosted in the park in a pop-up theatre tent that is being set up specifically for the production.

To book tickets for one of the performances visit: www.easternangles.co.uk or ring 01473 211498. Tickets are also available at Nene Park Visitor Centre.