A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene—
Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.

Piers Plowman by William Langland (1370-90)

In summer 2017 a masterpiece of medieval English literature is coming back to life

Join dreamer Will as he searches for Truth across the spectacular landscape of the Malvern Hills and witness his arrival into London's original suburb of sin. Against a backdrop of social and spiritual crisis, he encounters a cast of incredible characters - from Reason and Conscience to a binge-drinking Gluttony and Piers the Plowman. As you follow in Will's footsteps, explore the issues that troubled the medieval mind which are still relevant today: from disability to labour reform, from religious tension to financial excess.

Fair Field re-imagines the fourteenth century epic poem Piers Plowman as a story of crisis and hope for the twenty-first century. Will's extraordinary journey will be captured in five new artistic commissions, ranging from theatrical performance to music and spoken word, performed live at Ledbury Poetry Festival and Shoreditch Town Hall.

And that's not all. You can discover more about medieval poetry at an accompanying exhibition at the National Poetry Library, try your hand at reworking old texts with the Poetry School, and immerse yourself in the world of Piers Plowman through digital resources and multimedia.

Immerse yourself in the Fair Field

F

air Field re-imagines the fourteenth century epic poem Piers Plowman as a story of crisis and hope for the twenty-first century. Join the poem's hero, Will, as he searches for Truth across the spectacular landscape of the Malvern Hills and witness his arrival into London's original suburb of sin. Meet a cast of incredible characters along the way - from Reason and Conscience to a binge-drinking Gluttony, and explore the issues that troubled the medieval mind which are still relevant today: from disability to labour reform, from religious tension to financial excess.

This extraordinary journey will be captured in five new artistic commissions, ranging from theatrical performance to music and spoken word, performed live at Ledbury Poetry Festival and Shoreditch Town Hall. You can discover more about medieval poetry at an accompanying exhibition at the Poetry Library, try your hand at reworking old texts with the Poetry School, and immerse yourself in the world of Piers Plowman through digital resources and multimedia.

► related posts

In summer 2017 Piers Plowman will be brought to life in a riot of music, theatre and live performance. Join the search for Truth across the spectacular Malvern Hills and in the heart of London.
Visit the National Poetry Library to discover medieval literature's enduring power. Or sign up to an online course and learn how to 'write medieval'.
New to Piers Plowman? Start here to explore this remarkable 650-year-old poem and find out why it's still important today.