Overview
How would you feel about sitting in front of that nice old village pub
on a sunny afternoon while convoys of 40-ton tankers roll past six feet
away? Deerland Energy's plans to drill for shale gas in the pretty
village of Fenstock are going well. The company is looking at big
profits. They can count on the support of distinguished scientists
working in university departments funded by the energy companies while
at local level, Councillor Pilbeam, Chair of the Planning Committee,
seems to be open to lucrative offers. The only slight snag is a ragged
band of protesters, reluctantly led by retired academic Elizabeth
Blackwood. Surely she's just another 'mad old biddy', as she's
characterised by ruthless PR guru Joe Selby. This new razor-sharp black
comedy by Alistair Beaton takes a timely look at the conflicted core of
planetary energy and earthly power. Fracked! received its world premiere
at the Chichester's Minerva Theatre on 8 July 2016.