Little Edens
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| Little Edens | |
|---|---|
 Little Edens being performed at the Museum of Oxford in 2023 | |
| Music | Light piano |
| Setting | East Oxford during the 1934 Florence Park Rent Strike |
| Basis | Based on the events of the Florence Park Rent Strike |
| Premiere | 2021: Florence Park Community Centre, Oxford |
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Little Edens is a theatre production based on the events of the 1934 Florence Park Rent Strike in Oxford, England, when approximately 600 Oxford residents refused to pay rent in protest at slum conditions in the newly built Florence Park estate.[1][2]
Many of the characters are fictional residents of Florence Park, although many famous political figures in Oxford's history make an appearance, most notably members of both the Communist Party of Great Britain and the Labour Party, including Abraham Lazarus, Richard Crossman, and Frank Pakenham. Most of the cast members were recruited from local communities in Oxfordshire.
Little Edens debuted in 2021 in Oxford's Florence Park Community Center, selling out all tickets.[1] It was first performed in Oxford city center in April 2023 at the Museum of Oxford.[3][4]
Plot[edit]
The play takes place in 1934 and follows the lives of the fictional Evans family, a Welsh working-class family that moves into the newly built Florence Park Estate in east Oxford. Despite being overjoyed to have a place to live, the family soon discover that the houses in their estate, including their own, are plagued with structural flaws, damp and mouldy conditions, and were built by untrained workers.
The parents (Glyn and Megan Evans) argue over whether to take action against the slumlord (Fred Moss) who owns their houses. The community becomes restless and the residents form a strike committee and begin refusing to pay their rent in protest of their poor living conditions. Their rent strike attracts the support of students from the University of Oxford, and activists from both the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain, alongside many of the townspeople.
Fred Moss's attempts to break the strike committee become increasingly draconian, while the residents forwarding the rent strike become fractured over which strategies to pursue. As the male residents begin to loose their will to continue the strike, the women of Florence Park become increasingly militant. Eventually, Fred Moss sells his ownership of the estate and the rent strikers declare victory and celebrate.
Gallery[edit]
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Abraham Lazarus (played by Ben Shaw) defends the rent strikers
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Acting and support cast of Little Edens pose infront of a display featuring the history of the Cutteslowe Walls.
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Slum lord Fred Moss (played by Phil Pritchard) confronts female supporters of the rent strike
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Rent strikers celebrate Boxing Day
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Actors and actresses receive praise from the audience following a performance of Little Edens
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Glyn Evans (James Shaw) argues with his wife Megan Evans (Juliet Henderson)
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Glyn Evans (James Shaw) speaks with his wife Megan Evans (Juliet Henderson)
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Abraham Lazarus (played by Ben Shaw) supports the Florence Park rent strikers
Creators[edit]
Little Edens was written by retired journalist Peter Cann, and directed by Tim Eyres of the Oxford Theatre Guild.[1][5]
Peter Cann, a local resident of Florence Park estate, says that he was inspired to create Little Edens in honour of the Welsh workers who migrated to Oxford during the 1930s:
“Everyone knows about the Cutteslowe Walls built about the same time but few people have heard of the Florence Park rent strike. I felt it was a story that needed telling. It drew support from students who were later to became famous politicians – Richard Crossman, Patrick Gordon Walker, and Frank Pakenham, better known as Lord Longford. Gordon Walker won an historic local election victory because of his support for the rent strike. “But I wanted to pay tribute to the tenants themselves, many who had come from places such as South Wales and Tyneside to find work at the car factory. It is they who made those sacrifices so it is very much a community play, staged in Florence Park. The majority of the cast are drawn from the local area.”[1]
Reception[edit]
The debut performance of Little Edens in 2021 at the Florence Park Community Center sold out all its tickets.[1]
In 2023, the Oxford Mail advised its readers to book tickets early, as previous showings of Little Edens had sold out.[6]
Shaista Aziz, Oxford's Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities and Culture, gave a glowing review of Little Edens, and praised the Museum of Oxford for choosing to host performances of the production in 2023: "I’m delighted that we’re able to host locally-produced theatre productions at the new Museum of Oxford. The Museum of Oxford is the only museum that tells the story of Oxford and its people, but to be able to host productions of local storytelling adds even more richness. It really shows how much value the Museum of Oxford brings to the city."[1]
Characters[edit]
- Glyn Evans
- Megan Evans
- Billy Evans
- Barbara Evans
- George Appleby
- Iris Appleby
- David Jones
- Margaret Jones
- Fred Moss
- Slimey Gibson
- Mrs Turner
- Abe Lazarus
- Jimmy Kincaid
- Policeman
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Museum of Oxford set to present play based on Florence Park rent strikes". Oxford City Council. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Little Edens". JACK fm. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ↑ "Little Edens". Museum of Oxford. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Museum of Oxford – Little Edens". Experience Oxfordshire. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Little Edens". OxOnArts.info. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
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