AS the 60th anniversary of the Canvey floods of 1953 approaches, a drama group is planning to mark the occasion with a special play. Cast and Crew are on a recruiting drive ahead of the revival of Flood! by Ray Knight.

The play pieces together many of the stories of bravery, tragedy, endurance, resilience – and of humour – that came out of that night on January 31. A fitting memorial to those who lost their lives, as well as a tribute to those who battled to save them and risked danger for others, the play will be performed next January and February.

Cast and Crew member Andy Shore says: “We are looking for more people, men and women – basically anyone over the age of 16. You can drop us an e-mail if you’re not sure or you can just turn up on a Tuesday evening and say hello. We’ve got some people involved already, but we’re always looking for more.”

The award-winning Canvey group are keen to get as many people involved as possible, as the play marks an event that affected a whole community. “We welcome anyone who wants to be involved,” says Andy.

“But we particularly want people from Canvey and Benfleet, as it’s a story that really affected people from those areas.

“The play is not inspired by the events, it’s based on them – people’s memories of it as well as official records. It’s pretty much a straight play and rather than trying to tell a single story it’s much more of a story of community.

“Some of the stories are famous, some are less well known.”

The floods saw 58 people killed as the water reached ceiling level of some of the lower-lying bungalows and they changed the face of the island resulting in a new seawall, which was later fortified again to strengthen it even more.

If you’re interested in joining the cast of Flood! e-mail Cast and Crew at flood@castandcrew.org.uk or call 01268 690579.

You can also pay the group a visit by dropping into a rehearsal any Tuesday at Lakeview Hall, Winter Gardens Primary School, Hilton Road from 7.30pm.

More details can be found at www.castandcrew.org.uk. Flood! will be be staged next year from Wednesday, 30th January 30 until Saturday, February 2, at St Nicholas Church Hall, Canvey.