This is a documentary we produced in partnership with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative and Larbert High School. It looks at the schools outdoor theatre project, Spark and Grit. This interactive play celebrated the heritage of the Carron Company as well as it’s legacy, the Carron Dams local nature reserve.
Huge thanks to the team at Lambert High, who helped massively throughout the production especially Lorna, Siobhan, Mhairi and Fiona and thanks to IFLI for bringing me onboard.
‘Spark and Grit’ was a Heritage Lottery funded community project and performance, developed by Larbert High School. It was part of the 2017 year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, which aims to inspire people to get involved in appreciating the history and culture of where they live. The school is adjacent to the Carron Dams local nature reserve which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This site is the legacy of the Carron Company which existed here for 245 years as an integral part of our community as well as an iron manufacturer of national and international importance. On 8 and 9 December 2017, students of Larbert High performed a piece of outdoor promenade theatre, celebrating the unique heritage of the Carron Company and its legacy: The Carron Dams local nature reserve. Through drama, music and a stunning light show, students re-enacted key aspects of Carron Company’s history and legacy within the setting of the Carron Dams. Pupils researched, designed and created this whole event from script to performance. They designed and made historically accurate props and costumes and composed music which set the mood and atmosphere of this unique outdoor performance, turning the Carron Dams into an ‘Enchanted Forest’.
