Our Roots

Our Roots Theatre and Diamond Celebrations 

2016 marked sixty years since the first residents moved to the Britwell Estate in Slough.

I worked with the Britwell community to create an exciting and entertaining intergenerational piece of place-based theatre and celebratory local festival.

Inspired by the location and lives of this community Our Roots combined song, music, dance and theatre to create a meaningful, moving performance about the people who have made this place.

Working with local volunteers and artists, community elders the ‘Recycled Teenagers’ and over twenty young Britwellians aged 8 – 16, I developed, wrote and directed an original script inspired by stories from the streets of our town.

Over 500 people attended the Our Roots theatre performances and the diamond celebration festival to join us to share a slice of history, and a slice of cake.

The film of the Britwell Drama group’s Our Roots journey can be seen here

I Am The Person Who

I am the person who survived the Blitz

I am the person who fought and won

I am the person who witnessed the death of thousands

I am the person who stopped the river’s flow

I am the person who built the Mars Factory

I am the person who raised a family here

I am the person who first moved in

I am the person who delivered letters to your homes for 40 years

I am the person who collected tadpoles in the Lynch Hill stream

I am the person who became a DJ at the age of 90

I am the person who carries a photo of my wife as a Wren

I am the person who has lived here for 60 years and am just getting used to it

I am the person who wears my medals with pride

I am the person who was born to the sound of Bow Bells

I am the person that knows there is nowhere like this

I am the person who loves this place.

With thanks & respect to the Britwell Recycled Teenagers and special thanks to Fred, Bobby, Albert, Bernadette & John