In many works of literature and media, life on the moors is portrayed romantically or as a simple way of living. Mark Beeson, MED Theatre’s late founder, was eager to explore the stark reality of living and working rurally by reading the lesser known works of writers such as John Trevena and his own mother, Jane Beeson.
This interest led MED Theatre to create this project – one that will not only look at artistic interpretations but also the real lives of people, both past and present, who have made a life on Dartmoor and across rural Devon. We aim to explore various agricultural and industrial trades, and also how these occupations have impacted the personal lives and families of workers for generations.