• Theatre is shifting from dystopian climate narratives to hopeful stories that inspire action and community engagement.
• Plays are localizing the climate crisis, making it easier for audiences to grasp and address in their own communities.
• Techniques like puppetry, comedy, and folklore are being used to engage audiences emotionally and encourage collaborative solutions.

Theatre productions worldwide are addressing climate change with a new wave of urgency, shifting away from despair and towards hope and action. Playwrights, directors, and community organizations are collaborating to create engaging narratives that connect audiences emotionally with the climate crisis, inspiring them to take local action and foster community resilience. These productions employ diverse methods, including folklore, puppetry, and comedy, to make the climate emergency more accessible and less overwhelming.

• What: Theatre productions are using various techniques to address climate change, focusing on inspiring action through localized narratives and community engagement.
• Who: Playwrights Flora Wilson Brown and Kit Miles, directors Nancy Medina and David Lan, and organizations such as Bristol Old Vic, Theatre for Life, and the New Forest National Park Authority.
• When: The plays mentioned are being staged from May 2025 through summer 2026.
• Where: Bristol, Southampton, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle.

The article highlights a significant trend in theatre: the use of optimistic narratives to combat climate change. By shifting the focus from doom and despair to hope and community engagement, these productions aim to empower audiences to take action. Localizing the climate crisis, as seen in 'Bringing the Outside In,' makes the issue more relatable and manageable. The use of techniques like puppetry, comedy, and folklore helps to engage audiences emotionally and encourages collaborative solutions. The scale of projects like 'The Herds' demonstrates the potential for large-scale, impactful change through artistic expression.

The ones who profit most from the idea that we’re doomed are the oil companies and the people massively polluting our planet. If we allow ourselves to think there’s nothing we can do, we won’t do anything. There’s still time to act.

The majority of people being affected by the climate crisis, in the global south, don’t have the time or the energy to be scared of it. They are only just surviving it.

Climate scientists we’ve spoken to say there is good, meaningful data, but they need artists to tell it as a story people can connect with.

Theatre is emerging as a powerful tool for addressing the climate crisis by shifting the narrative from despair to hope and action. By localizing the issues, fostering community engagement, and using innovative storytelling techniques, these productions inspire audiences to take meaningful steps towards a sustainable future. The ongoing efforts of playwrights, directors, and community organizations demonstrate the potential for theatre to catalyze change and create a more resilient world.