Norwich Eye reviews Mousehold to the Marsh

The Waterloo Park Keep Fit squad in action – photo © Julian Swainson

The Common Lot have an impressive record of community engagement and organisation and have created many memorable shows and events over the years. Their shows always have a large cast, lots of music, plenty of drama, humour and pathos and often a clear message drives the narrative.

Mousehold to the Marsh is a history of the green spaces of our fine city, looking at the creation of the many parks and open spaces in and around North Norwich. The show looks at some of the battles between local communities and the rich and powerful, who even today seem hell bent on taking away our rights to our common inheritance and green landscape.

In a former life I was closely involved in some of the battles that the show brings to life, such as the successful campaign to build Marriots Way as a linear park and cycle and pedestrian route on the line of a former railway that had been earmarked for a new double carriageway road. Even more recently the battle to save another part of the Wensum Valley from a damaging new road has only just been won.

The show takes a canter through our various parks and their formation, concentrating on the involvement of working class communities and local activist groups. Even if you know a bit about Norwich and its history there are lots of stories and details packed into this 65 minute show to fascinate and inform you.

The show is bound together by a strong musical score and several well crafted songs. All the cast join the singing, often from all round the audience space giving an intimate and involving feel to the show.

Above all these shows are just good fun. There are lots of visual gags and a lively cast who give great performances but have learned not to take themselves too seriously. One chap pops up from the back of the crowd every few minutes as all sorts of random characters, including a hedgehog, a sapling, a swift and a dragonfly and he is soon an audience favourite. Look out too for the Waterloo Park Keep Fit group! Although the Common Lot are an amateur and voluntary group they encompass many very talented actors and performers many of whom you will recognise from previous productions and other local events.

The shows are free, although at the end you have a chance to make a contribution to Common Lot to help them keep going if you wish. For this show they have partnered with several local environmental and wildlife groups who come along to chat to anyone interested in their work. Bring something to sit on, maybe a picnic or a tin of shandy and you will have a perfect evening in the park with great entertainment.

For more information go to: https://www.thecommonlot.org