WHEN local playwright Deborah Gearing started to write a show about Southampton’s history with water, she had no idea how much it would affect her.

“It’s been really fascinating for me,” she said. “Some people have got memories of the 1930s, still.

“Also, you have people whose memories are very strong about the 1970s. I’m sitting there forgetting that I’ve actually grown older and I’m thinking that the 70s weren’t that long ago.”

Between Wind and Water is a one-hour play based on the memories of the water from the viewpoint of Southampton’s people. It explores all the longing, the yearning, the ambition and heartbreak of lives lived beside the spell of the sea.

“I think we’ve got quite dislocated to the water in Southampton,” Deborah said.

“When you think about the number of people who used to be employed as dockers, and ship building, we don’t have the same amount of people engaged with that now, so I think it’s got a bit lost in the fabric of our living.”

Between Wind and Water tours four venues and is at at the Tudor House Museum in Southampton today at 2.30pm and at Weston Court and Abbey Hall, Netley on Friday August 2.

For tickets and details, click here>> or call 023 8083 4563.