Land Marked was created in 2001 – Echoing and reflecting on the UK’s then obsessions with how communities are made and broken (Survivor, Big Brother, the EU…). The piece addresses the manipulation of territory, the circulation of power, and the patrolling of borderlines – from the micro level of the family to the macro level of nations. Heimat, Casa, Hjem, Home.

On a blank piece of 4m square paper, the performers work with pens,domestic lights, and a ghetto blaster to construct and reconstruct a ‘living’ map – their own memories of home interwoven with stories and images of the local land and community. This creates a performed geography where ‘real world’ sound objects and ‘fake’ sound effects collide with each performers ‘mother tongue’ in a landscape where metaphor and memory are neighbours. Under the guise of democracy, the three strangers argue and rearrange themselves into teams of two against one, to try and establish a shared history. Alliances are made and broken as each person desperately tries to smuggle into the group their own idea of what a home should be.

The piece was performed simultaneously in German/Italian, Norwegian and English remaining highly accessible to a wide range of audiences. Each performance of Land Marked was responsive to a series of street interventions where research in the form of memories, histories, sights and sounds gathered from the local village – town – city was incorporated into the subsequent performance shown in that place.

“Walking down the steep path next to the rock formation called Holderstein I meet a little stream. (My home is) dark trees in a snowy forest, everything is wet and dark here on the valley floor. Soon I hit the lane and turn left to follow the stream which has developed into a little river by now. I come to a big clearing with an old mill, there are side buildings, a well. Dogs bark at me but they are chained in the courtyard. (My home is) being left in peace, I turn left and begin to ascend the other side of the valley, crossing a stretch of pine forest I step out into the bright sunlight finding myself on meadows with scattered apple and cherry trees. (My home is) the smell of fermenting apples in an autumn orchard. Further up I see the village. (My home is) church bells loud and from across the road. Next to the church, our house. (My home is) moving around and away from me all the time just out of reach. Trying to catch up keeps me on my toes, that’s kinda OK.”  Heiko Fischer – Research Writing 4.01

Land Marked was commissioned by Theatre at Dartington College of Arts, Devon for the International Devising Theatre Conference 2001 and further developed through a 6 week residency at Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt for the Plateaux Festival 2001.

Land Marked was originally devised and performed in Dartington and Frankfurt by Paula Crutchlow (UK) – devising director, John Levack Drever (SCO) – devising composer, Henning Hegland (NOR) – devising performer, Heiko Fischer (BRD) – devising performer and Cat Radford (UK) – devising performer. Further UK performances with Augusto Corrieri (I)