Climate Change Theatre Action: A Means of Discernment

S ince 2017, John Heimburg and I have collaborated with Climate Change Theatre Action, performing as the Bohn Jeverly Theatre Troupe. Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA) is a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis presented every two years to coincide with the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Every other year, about 50 professional playwrights, representing all inhabited continents as well as several cultures and Indigenous nations, are commissioned by CCTA to write five-minute plays about an aspect of the climate crisis based on a prompt. The plays are made available to potential organizers interested in presenting an event in their communities. Events can be in-house readings, public performances, radio shows, podcasts, film adaptations. Fortunately, SEYM Half Yearly Meeting occurs during or near to the time of the COP meetings and the Bohn Jeverly Troupe shares an offering from the latest cycle during the talent show.

Over the years, the troupe has recorded several of the plays. This first offering, Homo Sapiens, written by one of the CCTA creators, Chantal Bilodeau, is from the 2017 cycle of plays. (Watch our video below!) Chantal says this play was “Inspired by Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History.” The theme for the 2017 Festival was “Where is the Hope?”

 

If you’re interested in learning more, visit the Climate Change Theatre Action website. Then please contact me, Beverly, to talk about how you can collaborate with us!

Beverly Ward
SEYM Field Secretary for Earthcare
Email    (813) 928-8823