All the world’s a stage, the poet says; every drama worth enacting forged from life itself. Equally it is the case that theatre, art and creativity lack validity unless they represent the preoccupations of their age: on every stage, the world. This understanding is at the core of Norwich Theatre’s Creative Matters.
In the history of humanity, there has been no greater tragedy than climate change. There is no more important home for such discussion than the theatre. For, as the poet almost said, all the environment’s a stage.
Artists and creatives are responding to the climate in Norwich Theatre’s year-long Creative Matters season. The season uses the power of creativity and storytelling to discover different perspectives on the climate crisis from a wide range of voices. It uses performances, workshops, events and conversations to facilitate a space for people to explore and challenge their thoughts and feelings around a topic. Experience the responses of community artists after dark in Norwich Theatre Stage Two with its Climate Stories Late on 21 Jul from 6pm.
As with popular “Lates” experiences, Climate Stories Late offers visitors a relaxed, social environment. Come with your friends, grab a drink, and explore multi-sensory responses about climate change developed with our community of artists. The building will come to life at night for an immersive evening with performances and talks with artists, writers, and other performers.
Speaking about Climate Stories Late, Elspeth Hunter, Creative Engagement Project Manager at Norwich Theatre, said: “Cultural forces are often the catalyst for transformative societal shifts. We ask that people join us for Climate Stories Late and experience the power of creativity for themselves.”
Attendees will come face-to-face with the artists whilst exploring their work as well as experiencing installations, film, debate and hands-on workshops. Listen to the soundscape created especially for the evening whilst you take in the art installations and videos. See the films of individual experiences of how the climate crisis affects migration.
There will be several talking points throughout the evening for you to contribute to the discussion, share your thoughts and feelings, ask questions about the climate crisis, or listen to others. Create an art-based response to what you have seen and heard with the help of a local artist.
Asher Minns, Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, is a partner in the project. He said: “Norfolk is the UK County at the front line of climate change, whether it is powering the nation with its clean renewable energy or facing into North Sea floods, summer wildfires and droughts. Climate Stories brings soul and emotion and feeling to all the scientific numbers. It makes space for all the conversations that need to happen about today and tomorrow, to help with the void that can transform climate anxiety and despair into positive outcomes.”
As a part of Creative Matters: Climate Stories, Norwich Theatre has launched The Green Community Enquiry, an online survey which asks audiences across the region about how they think institutions should respond to the climate crisis, what role theatres should have, and how Norwich Theatre can make the most impact. Questions consider what you expect a cultural organisation to be doing to tackle the climate crisis through creative work, managing buildings and running audience events.
Climate Stories late is free, but booking is encouraged to avoid disappointment.