What are we doing about the climate emergency? What are we not doing? What more could we be doing? What more should we be doing?
Image credit: Gary Andrew Clarke
These questions (and others) are addressed in A Citizens’ Assembly, a new play written by me, Andy Smith (part-time Lecturer in Theatre Practice in SALC), and made in collaboration with applied arts practitioner (and former UoM postgraduate student) Lynsey O’Sullivan.
The work was made with the support of the Dukes Theatre, Lancaster and the SALC Social Responsibility Fund. Early research was done in collaboration with members of staff at The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Since January, starting at The Lowry Studio, we’ve been touring to public venues and studio spaces (including a performance at HOME) as well as at festivals, in schools, university and community settings. The work will continue to tour into 2025, and we’re currently developing a version for Year 6 pupils.
The play tells a story of a group of people from different walks of life, of different ages and opinions who have met to discuss and debate the climate emergency. The twist (if you can call it that) is that the characters in the play are played by the people in the audience. At the start the situation is explained, scripts are handed out. There are twelve speaking parts and three acts. In the last act, the room is opened for a discussion by everyone there. To talk about those questions above, as well as others brought up by the characters in the play. The aim of the work is to find a way into this theme and subject through play. By pretending to be other people (who might have different opinions, idea and perspectives than us) we want to perhaps try and drive a little empathy and find a way to think and talk about this all.
This is a theme and situation that affects everyone. Rather than simply relay information and statistics about this situation (that at times can be quite overwhelming and distressing), the play tries to open a space that might feel like one of possibility. At least that’s the hope! It is a play that wants to be hopeful. Create moments of a potential movement and activity in the people who see and participate in it, perhaps even something like an activism. At least it wants to create a space for reflection where we can consider where we are and what we are up to. A space where we can perhaps find ways to continue to be in the world and keep going in the year and years ahead and carry on however difficult and complex things might get.
I think this is something that we might need a bit of in the current context. I think it is something that the engagement in and reception of theatre and art generally can do well. Or at least I think that it can make the attempt. I think it can do it in different ways in different forms, whether they are visual, musical, or performative. And I think these things can be beautiful, provoking, funny, dramatic, confusing, boring, engaging, enriching, and challenging.
We can of course easily make the decision that any art is just a folly, that it’s not going to change anything, but I think that would be an excuse; a way out of doing anything about anything ourselves. The hope is that A CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY might be trying to make a space where the possibility of change appears; where we can take stock, consider things a bit, and consider that what might be possible. And then maybe at the end go out and do something about it.
Yes of course, this is all very romantic, but that’s good enough for me.
Andy Smith
(Andy Smith is an acclaimed theatre-maker based in Lancaster and part time lecturer in Theatre Practice at The University of Manchester.)
For more information on A Citizens’ Assembly (including a short video of Andy talking about the work, and future tour dates) please visit Andy’s website..