Fishlake: Yorkshire Flood Play Wins Standing Ovation Ahead of Rotherham and Wakefield Dates

A powerful new play inspired by the 2019 South Yorkshire floods is moving audiences across the region to tears - and laughter - as Fishlake continues its Yorkshire tour with upcoming performances at Rotherham Civic Theatre (28 October) and Theatre Royal Wakefield (30 October).

Written by a Fishlake playwright whose own home was flooded, Fishlake brings to life the true stories of a community submerged - and its extraordinary resilience. Blending real testimony, live music and a community choir, the production offers a deeply human portrait of strength, humour and hope.

Audiences have responded with a standing ovation and heartfelt five-star reviews:

"Astonishingly good - very emotional and funny in parts." - Andy Kershaw, former BBC broadcaster

"Superb: evocative and emotional."

"Informative, serious, comical in parts - all seen through the eyes of real people who lived it."

Heather Shepherd MBE (Flooded People UK) praised the play as "you would think I would be fairly hardened to the emotion it brings, but I found myself fighting back the tears several times" adding:

"A heartfelt thank you... for highlighting the emotions, exhaustion, practicalities and legacy of trauma that remain with us all...for many years."

Harry Holmes (Flooded People UK) said:

"It really is a play by flooded people that makes clear what it is like. I hope it gets shown widely and many see it."

Whilst another member of the Flooded People UK group commented:

"This play needs to be shared nationally....Flood victims can't sleep."

The production has already featured on BBC Look North, BBC Radio Sheffield, ITV Calendar, The Yorkshire Post, Yahoo! News, That's TV and The Telegraph & Argus.

Tickets:

https://rotherhamtheatres.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173661210

https://www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/events/fishlake-2025

Press Enquiries: sheepishprods@gmail.com

Website: www.sheepprod.co.uk

Sheepish Productions
Grove Road
Fishlake
Doncaster
DN7 5JU
England
Telephone Number: 07868 843747 (Jez Fletcher)

Sheepish Productions Theatre Company Ltd creates bold, socially conscious theatre rooted in real stories and community experience. Based in Yorkshire, the company develops original plays that blend professional performance with authentic local voices - exploring themes of resilience, identity and human connection.

Its most recent production, Fishlake, was created in collaboration with the community affected by the 2019 floods, combining verbatim storytelling, live music and a local choir to tell an extraordinary true story of loss, recovery and hope.

Sheepish Productions' work is characterised by artistic ambition and emotional honesty - using theatre as both entertainment and catalyst for conversation.

This release was published on openPR.