'Fish Out Of Water': New play for radio holds a mirror up to our times

Can a play about a gay early twentieth century fisheries pioneer, who died in the Spanish flu epidemic, resonate in these times of the Covid-19 virus?

Sidmouth Sea Fest believes it can.

A new radio play 'Fish Out of Water' about Stephen Reynolds will be premiering on Saturday, 16 May at 4pm on phonic.fm - Exeter's community radio station.

This date is also the anniversary of Reynolds's birth.

May 16 was to have kicked off the 2020 phase of local festivals with the Sidmouth Sea Fest - the annual coastal community celebration.

Instead the festival organisers have decided to create an online presence and a radio broadcast which can be heard online here.

With its exploration of themes of acceptance, homosexuality, belonging, class, perils of the fishing industry and a life cut short by a virus, the play has a contemporary resonance.

Reynolds's experience of life and friendship with the Sidmouth fishing family the Woolleys and his later influence on safety at sea are extraordinary.

The play was co-written by Pippa Marriott and David Lloyd who live in Sidmouth for Sea Fest 2019.

The story was brought to life by a community ensemble celebrating diversity, and told with humour, song and personal testimony.

Sea Fest organisers, Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub wanted to widen the reach of this local heritage tale.

Reynolds died of Spanish flu on Valentine's Day February 14, 1919.

Reynold's life was cut short when the flu became pneumonia, a development, that according to his friends, was compounded by overwork as Inspector of Fisheries for the south-western area during the First World War.

Director of Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub, Louise Cole said: "The play was to have been broadcast at Sea Fest in May as part of an audio installation, but because of Covid-19 we cannot host the event this year.

"There is laughter, song and a great poignancy in the play which opens with Stephens' death – none of us could have known how much of a mirror the play would hold up to our current times.

"We hope it will be enjoyed and will entertain but maybe too that it may usefully give people a moment to reflect as they listen. It seems fitting that radio is the genre."

Pippa Marriott commented: "Creating this play has been such a positive community effort.

"Working with a predominantly older cast with widely differing levels of acting experience was a pleasurable challenge, and the authenticity of their Sidmouth voices is really apparent in the play.

"The convivial spirit of the ensemble has exemplified so much of the good humour, kindness and 'all in this together' spirit which is helping to make the current Covid-19 crisis bearable."