The Banks of Futures Past
Ongoing
River Lea
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For anyone interested in the River Lea and the heritage of activism and music subcultures.
Info
A collection of stories about activism, play and travel along the River Lea. Home to both people and nature, the river possesses an undeniable spiritual significance. These stories reflect on the relationship between people, industry and the river throughout history from the neolithic settlement at the source to those caring for the ecology for future generations.
For anyone interested in the River Lea and the heritage of activism and music subcultures.
Wendy Morrison
Archaeologist Wendy Morrison talks about the relationship between the River Lea’s source in Leagrave, the Neolithic earthworks of Waulud’s Bank and the ancient bond between people and waterways.
Caroline Day & Charlie Charman
Caroline Day and Charlie Charman talk about Occupy London, the 2012 Olympics, dog walking, official paranoia and fighting to protect green space and river habitats around Walthamstow, Leyton and Hackney Marshes.
Kat Wysocka
Kat Wysocaka talks about her role as Head of Climate Change at Luton Borough Council and the daylighting progress being made to the culverted sections of the River Lea.
Lippy Lil
Lippy Lil talks about her experiences being brought up by the River Lea, living on a houseboat on the River Lea and water pollution.
Luis Rojo
Film-maker Luis Rojo has explored the River Lea’s course through Greater London as a cyclist and reader. He reflects on the replacement of abandoned fridges with ducks, and the river’s wildness and marginality, finding in it a microcosm of contemporary urban life.
Marcus Trower
Marcus Trower of the National Bargee Travellers’ Association talks about the diverse roots of his activism, the necessity of struggle, protest flotillas, babies on boats and the fight to defend nomadic ways of life.
Paul Jolly & Linda Farrell (Muddie)
Paul Jolly and Linda ‘Muddie’ Farrell talk about Marsh House’s anarchic adventure playground, Muddie’s ‘baptism’ in the River Lea, inflatable corpses, mad hatters and Luton’s thriving grassroots creative scene between the 1970s and the 1990s.
Reverend Luke Larner [Warning: Strong Language]
Reverend Luke Larner talks about kayaking with his family, blessing the River Lea, scantily clad Greek divers and the connection between an underground river and Luton’s future liberation.
Credits/supporters
Undercurrent Research phase was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Undercurrent is a Revoluton Arts project in partnership with Marsh Farm Outreach, supported by Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
