BBC Countryfile star Tom Heap will discuss Norfolk farm play

Best known for his investigations on the popular BBC show, Mr Heap will watch a performance of "Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly" on May 25 - and then discuss the nature and climate issues it highlights.

The 50-minute play, by dramatist Steve Waters of the University of East Anglia (UEA), sees farmer Martin, partner Becky and estranged daughter, Aimee, seek to find their way through through three futures of flood, fire and drought.

Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly is a play set on a Norfolk farm. Pictured: Aimee and Martin (Molly-Rose Treves and Mike Bernardin) struggle to find water and food amid drought and wildfires (Image: Anita Staff)

As a passionate advocate for rural issues, Mr Heap said he is looking forward to returning to Norfolk, which is a regular filming location.

He regularly presents on TV and radio about land management and climate change, and has also written books on the subject - which he believes needs to be covered in new and engaging ways, including drama.

“From a journalistic point of view, climate change is an amazing story; the stakes couldn’t be higher, we’re all involved, it’s got tragedy and disaster, it’s also got solution and redemption and heroes,” he said.

“It’s also got some of the makings of what puts people off stories; basically they think it’s about them being guilty and slightly powerless and so they feel they might end up feeling worse at the end of whatever it might be, a three-minute TV news package or a half-hour documentary or even a four-day book read."

Mr Heap said there are "real dilemmas" in managing the British countryside, to balance the priorities of "food, nature and climate, plus the lives and welfare of the people who live there".

"I’m not someone who believes we should go full on for the nature side alone because I think we just push our food requirement to the rest of the world and we end up ruining their nature or pushing out more carbon. I don’t think that’s a very honest way to behave," he said.

Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly is a play set on a Norfolk farm. Pictured: Martin and Becky (Mike Bernardin and Caroline Rippin) are devastated after a flood destroys their farm (Image: Anita Staff)

Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly is inspired by the opening chapter of a book by Rupert Read, emeritus associate professor at UEA and co-director of the Climate Majority Project, entitled "This Civilisation is Finished".

Dr Read said: “The wonderful thing about drama is it can bring the future that it depicts alive to us. It is thrilling to see the kinds of possible futures - bad, ugly and good - that we may choose together to make, staged for us to contemplate, to see."

Mr Heap, who is based in Warwickshire, describes Countryfile as “one of the luckiest jobs in British journalism because I get to travel to usually beautiful places and meet fascinating and interesting people".

He said he relishes the chance to dig deeper into key issues and cover controversial stories, adding: “Countryfile can feel a little bit like a warm bath but I think with the addition of the investigations, it’s a warm bath with a good book. It’s got something to sink your mental teeth into.

"I think as well as people enjoying the films we make, it lends authenticity to the whole programme. It stops it being viewed simply as a sort of advert - and that matters."

Phoenix, Dodo, Butterfly will be performed at The Drill House, Great Yarmouth, at 7.30pm on May 25, as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, before going on a summer tour including venues in Sheringham, Lowestoft and Wisbech. It was also staged earlier this week at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, followed by a panel debate with farmers, an agronomist and an environmental adviser.

For more details see www.phoenixdodobutterfly.com.