From the Dunes

Norfolk has some of the highest rates of coastal erosion across the country, and while sleepy villages such as Happisburgh experience some of the most dramatic and contrasting imagery, on the eastern region sits some of the most devastating and heartbreaking stories.

‘From the Dunes’ is a short film produced by Joseph Harrington and commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, which tells the story of a family from Hemsby whose home is under direct and imminent threat from this natural phenomenon. Told through the eyes of two teenage boys, it will be a hopeful and optimistic exploration of their personal relationship with the place they call home, and aims to give voice to a community that feel forgotten and abandoned.

Working with local poet Poppy Stevens, the boys will write and perform a spoken word piece to narrate the film. Using this work as a stimulus, Poppy will then be delivering a series of poetry workshops in secondary schools across the region to further explore young people’s experience of living in our coastal communities.

The film will be screened as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2026, alongside a panel discussion including filmmaker Joseph Harrington, members of the family and representatives from the Save Hemsby Coastline Campaign. A selection of poems from the supporting schools’ workshops will also be presented.

Further details of this event will appear here once they are confirmed.

Artists

Joseph Harrington and Poppy Stevens

Locations

Hemsby and Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth

Participants

22 Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 students from Community-Ed Academy

Partners

JH Film Production

Schools Call Out

We are looking to offer East Norfolk based Secondary schools the opportunity to take part in From the Dunes: a free creative writing workshop for students from Key Stage 3 and above as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s Connect & Create programme.

This is a writing workshop with a difference, as no previous writing experience is needed. Students will watch From The Dunes as a prompt, before taking part in fun writing games and guided exercises all designed to help them express their ideas with confidence. This workshop aims to take the fear out of writing and instead, celebrate imagination, creativity, and storytelling.

At the end of each 2-hour workshop, every student will leave with an original piece of writing, with selected work being showcased as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2026.

If your school would like to take part or you would like more information, please contact David.Stothard@nnfestival.org.uk 

Information pack