In a spoken “overture” to Translated by Reeds” local author Richard Mabey reflects on his own discovery of the Waveney and Blyth valleys, after a lifetime spent in the wooded hills of the Chilterns.

With the help of a specially designed Cabinet of Curiosities, he tracks the river Waveney through its historical changes, from the headwater fens, the remnants of commons, the mysterious glacial mere at Diss, down to the estuary at Great Yarmouth, which began as a row of huts on an emerging sandbank a thousand years ago.

Everything in the valleys’ landscape is in a state of constant flux.

No wonder Virginia Woolf described it as “this strange, grey-green, undulating, dreaming, philosophising and remembering land”.

Richard Mabey’s “spoken overture’ will be followed by a new choral work inspired by the landscape around the rivers Waveney and Blyth.

Commissioned by Waveney & Blyth Arts, composer Karen Wimhurst and poet Joanna Guthrie have created a beautiful and evocative work to be performed three times by massed voices under the musical direction of Sian Croose.

There will be three public performances, and an open dress rehearsal of the choral work:

Saturday 15th September – 2.30pm open dress rehearsal; 7.30pm Performance at The Cut, Halesworth.

To book for The Cut email [email protected] or ring 0845 673 2123

Friday 21st September –8pm Performance at Diss Corn Hall.

To book for Diss Corn Hall email [email protected] or ring 01379 652 241

Saturday 22nd September – 7.30pm Performance at St Nicholas Minster, Great Yarmouth.

To book for St Nicholas Minster email  [email protected] or ring 01379 855 235

For more information about the project please email [email protected]