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Climate Emergency

Climate change poses an existential threat to humanity and theatremakers need to be part of addressing it. Here, you’ll find content about artistic work that engages with the climate crisis, as well as learnings about how to make theatre practices more eco-friendly. Chantal Bilodeau’s long-running Theatre in the Age of Climate Change series is a must-read, and don’t miss Groundwater Arts’s video series on the Green New Theater.

The Latest

Blessings and Provocations from the 2024 Under the Radar Symposium
Essay
Blessings and Provocations from the 2024 Under the Radar Symposium
by Ashley Malafronte
8 April 2024
Perform Europe Open Call Launch Event
Video
Perform Europe Open Call Launch Event
Learn More About the Vision Behind the New Edition of Perform Europe and Explore the Opportunities of the Open Call
Friday 1 December 2023
Europe
2023 ArtsLink Assembly: The Future is Not What It Used to Be
Video
2023 ArtsLink Assembly: The Future is Not What It Used to Be
A two-day assembly featuring perspectives from artists rooted in their communities, and figures in cultural policy and practice, philanthropy, and social justice.
Thursday 16 November to Friday 17 November 2023
Chicago, Illinois and Kyiv, Ukraine
Image of four tableaus with people experiencing time passing.
Letters From Warsaw
Essay

Letters From Warsaw

24 March 2021

Marta Keil and Grzegorz Reske share letters from the past and the future, from June 2020 to June 2029, detailing the changes to the theatrical landscape in their hometown of Warsaw, Poland.

a colorful illustration
Catalyzing Climate Justice by Divesting from Fossil Fuels
Essay

Catalyzing Climate Justice by Divesting from Fossil Fuels

19 February 2021

Annalisa Dias and Ronee Penoi, on behalf of Groundwater Arts, argue that there cannot be a just arts sector within an unjust world, and that contrary to what people think, arts workers do have the means and the agency to make change. What is needed is a new narrative.

Green New Theater with Producer Hub
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater with Producer Hub

Producing Ethically In 2020

Friday 5 February 2021
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater with Producer Hub (ASL-interpreted) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 5 February 2021 at 3:30 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) 4:30 p.m. MST (Colorado, UTC -7) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Perform Europe's project image for the opening event.
Perform Europe  
Perform Europe
Video

Perform Europe  

Introducing a project which will support experiments to find more sustainable ways for international physical and digital touring in Europe.

Thursday 28 January 2021
European Union

Launching of the Perform Europe project on livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 28 January 2021 at 14:00 CET (Brussels, UTC +1) / 15:00 EET (Bucharest, UTC +2) / 13:00 GMT (London, UTC +0) / 8 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Green New Theater Part 6: Immediate Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater Part 6: Immediate Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Y'all, we gotta stop it

Wednesday 13 January 2021
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 7: Immediate Divestment from Fossil Fuels (ASL-interpreted) livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 13 January 2021 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) 5 p.m. MST (Colorado, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Association of Performing Arts Professionals conference logo.
Calling for Radical Change: A Fieldwide Conversation: The Climate Crisis, Performing Arts Touring, and our Future
Association of Performing Arts Professionals logo.
APAP
Video

Calling for Radical Change: A Fieldwide Conversation: The Climate Crisis, Performing Arts Touring, and our Future

Monday 11 January 2021
New York City

How can we as a field address the impending climate crisis while we still have time to do so? What have we learned during this time and how can we build on it? In this session, join arts leaders, climate crisis experts, artists and innovators who are already responding to the crisis and calling for collective action to learn how the performing arts presenting, booking and touring field can tap our power for change and worldwide impact.

Grass growing out of an old laptop computer.
Streaming in the Just Transition
Essay

Streaming in the Just Transition

A Producer’s Guide to Measuring, Budgeting, and Lowering the Carbon Emissions of Livestreams and Video Conferences

7 January 2021

Vijay Mathew asks, and then offers ideas to approach, the question: "How will the performing arts field contribute to climate justice during the sixth mass extinction?"

a person standing behind a table with multiple handheld two-way radios
Fire Season
Essay

Fire Season

Making Site-Specific Theatre About Climate Change that Could Be Threatened by Climate Change

17 December 2020

Playwright and environmentalist Alice Stanley Jr. shares her experience of Capital W’s newest immersive theatre piece, Fire Season—a play about climate change that took place in the Santa Monica Mountains during this year’s wildfires.

Green New Theater Part 5
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater Part 5

Right Relationship to Land and History

Wednesday 2 December 2020
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 5: Right Relationship to Land and History (ASL-interpreted) livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 2 December 2020 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) 5 p.m. MST (Colorado, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Designing the New Decade, Green Theatre event poster.
Designing the New Decade: Green Theatre
The European theatre convention logo.
European Theatre Convention
Video

Designing the New Decade: Green Theatre

Hosted by European Theatre Convention's International Theatre Conference

Wednesday 25 November 2020
European Union

What can theatres do to reduce their carbon footprints? Why and how do we need to act and change our ways of producing, working and travelling? The conference focused on sustainability and "Green Theatre" practices to help the sector effectively implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

triptych of three clowns
A Very Very Very Serious Clown from Lebanon
Essay

A Very Very Very Serious Clown from Lebanon

10 November 2020

Amrita Dhaliwal and Nathaniel Justiniano speak with Lebanese humanitarian clown Sabine Choucair, covering the differences between clowning and bouffon, joining the revolution, environmental work, and more.

child drawing on a wall
RE:seeding, in correspondence Performance to Camera by Jade Montserrat
green text performingborders LIVE on black background
performingbordersLIVE
Live Art Development Agency Logo.
Live Art Development Agency (LADA)
Video

RE:seeding, in correspondence Performance to Camera by Jade Montserrat

A new performance to camera suggesting that there is a connection between ourselves and the earth

Friday 23 October 2020
London, United Kingdom

performingbordersLIVE20 and Live Art Development Agency presented a performance of RE:seeding, in correspondence Performance to Camera by Jade Montserrat livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 23 October 2020 at 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 7 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (UTC+2).

School of Resistance episode 7 poster.
School of Resistance—Episode Seven: Environmental Repercussions
National Theatre Ghent logo.
NTGent
Video

School of Resistance—Episode Seven: Environmental Repercussions

Living in a compromised world: a dialogue with Gail Bradbrook (UK), Alexis Shotwell (Canada), Alice Swift (UK)

Sunday 4 October
Ghent, Belgium

NTGent presented School of Resistance, Episode Seven: Environmental Repercussions livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 4 October 2020 at 18:00 CEST (Ghent, UTC +2) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 12:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 9:00 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7).

event text PUBLICLY TRANSPARENT BUDGETING
Green New Theater Part 4: Publicly Transparent Budgeting (Live-captioned and ASL-interpreted)
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater Part 4: Publicly Transparent Budgeting (Live-captioned and ASL-interpreted)

Y’all.... Where That Money At?

Thursday 1 October 2020
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 4: Publicly Transparent Budgeting (ASL-interpreted) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 1 October 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) 5 p.m. MDT (Colorado, UTC -6) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Poster for School of Resistance, episode 5.
School of Resistance—Episode Five: Beyond Europe
National Theatre Ghent logo.
NTGent
Video

School of Resistance—Episode Five: Beyond Europe

Building Transnational Futures with Ulrike Guérot and Srećko Horvat

Friday 25 September 2020
Ghent, Belgium

NTGent presented School of Resistance, Episode Five: Beyond Europe: Building Transnational Futures livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 25 September 2020 at 18:00 CEST (Ghent, UTC +2) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 12:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 9:00 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7).

Poster for event with title, time, and description.
School of Resistance—Episode Four: Why Theatre?
National Theatre Ghent logo.
NTGent
Video

School of Resistance—Episode Four: Why Theatre?

Theatre in Emergency. A dialogue with Nora Chipaumire (USA) and Chantal Mouffe (UK)

Thursday 3 September 2020
Ghent, Belgium

NTGent presented School of Resistance - Episode Four: Why Theatre? livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 3 September 2020 at 18:30 CEST (Ghent, UTC +2) / 17:30 BST (London, UTC +1) / 12:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 9:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7)

magenta to yellow gradient background. text: "y'all we gotta fix all of it. 3: sustainable resources, Green new theatre 2020 groundwater arts. Join us in a zoom-side space as we dream about the future of theatre.
Green New Theater Part 3: Y'all, we gotta fix all of it (ASL-interpreted)
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater Part 3: Y'all, we gotta fix all of it (ASL-interpreted)

hosted by Groundwater Arts

Thursday 13 August 2020
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 3: Y'all, we gotta fix all of it livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 13 August 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) 5 p.m. MDT (Colorado, UTC -6) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

field of sunflowers.
a farm for meme (ASL-interpreted)
cara mia logo.
Cara Mía Theatre
text: allgo in an orange font.
allgo
isdp's logo, made up of the letters i s d and p.
Innovations in Socially Distant Performance
Video

a farm for meme (ASL-interpreted)

A Zoom performance written by Virginia Grise

1 - 2 August 2020
Dallas, TX United States

allgo and Cara Mía Theatre presented a farm for meme livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August 2020, in collaboration with a todo dar productions and Innovations in Socially Distant Performance, an initiative of Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts.

text DECOLONIZED LEADERSHIP PRACTICES on blue and yellow background
Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices
Groundwater Arts
Video

Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices

hosted by Groundwater Arts

Thursday 16 July 2020
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 July 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

A theatre stage door, open to a sunset. The words The Green Rooms on the brick wall.
The Green Rooms: The Earth is Watching…Let’s Act
FOLDA logo.
FoldA
NAC English Theatre logo.
NAC English Theatre
Canada Council for the Arts
Video

The Green Rooms: The Earth is Watching…Let’s Act

A deep dive into the most urgent question of our time: How do we engage with the climate crisis and can theatre be part of the solution?

Wednesday 10 June to Friday 12 June 2020
Canada

NAC English Theatre in partnership with The Canada Council for the Arts, and FOLDA presented The Green Rooms: The Earth is Watching…Let’s Act livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Wednesday 10 June to Saturday 13 June 2020.

School of resistance event details.
School of Resistance—Episode Two: Make the World Habitable Again
National Theatre Ghent logo.
NTGent
Video

School of Resistance—Episode Two: Make the World Habitable Again

Climate, economy and protest in the Global South. A dialog with Vandana Shiva and Vanessa Nakate hosted by Lara Staal

Thursday 28 May 2020
Ghent, Belgium

NTGent presented School of Resistance - Episode Two: Make the World Habitable Again livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 28 May 2020 at 10 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 11 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 16:00 BEST (London, UTC+1) / 17:00 CEST (Ghent, UTC+2) / 18:00 EAT (Kampala, UTC+3) 20:30 IST (New Delhi, UTC+5:30).

Forrest Gander and Raquel Salas Rivera.
Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change, and Public Health
The Center for the Humanities logo.
Center for the Humanities
pen america in red text box
PEN World Voices
black and white outline of a lion's head
Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
Segal_Centre_Logo
Segal
Center
Video

Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change, and Public Health

Forrest Gander in conversation with Raquel Salas Rivera.

Tuesday 26 May 2020
United States

PEN America, the Center for the Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library presented Global Ecopoetics: Poetry, Translation, Climate Change & Public Health livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 26 May 2020 at 10:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 1:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 18:30 BST (London, UTC+1) / 19:30 CEST (Berlin, UTC+2).

school of resistance conversation series graphic.
School of Resistance—Episode One: This Madness Has to Stop
National Theatre Ghent logo.
NTGent
Video

School of Resistance—Episode One: This Madness Has to Stop

Opening speech of Wiener Festwochen by Kay Sara. Followed by a debate with Tania Bruguera and Milo Rau, moderated by Lara Staal

Saturday 16 May 2020
Ghent, Belgium

NTGent presented School of Resistance - Episode One: This madness has to stop livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 16 May 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 17:00 BEST (London, UTC+1) / 18:00 CEST (Belgium, UTC+2).

a person controlling a theatre's light rail rope system
Rebuilding a Better Theatre Industry Post-Pandemic
Essay

Rebuilding a Better Theatre Industry Post-Pandemic

A Punch List

14 May 2020

Genevieve Beller argues that the current forced pause on society provides a rare opportunity for theatres to take stock, inventory priorities, and enact positive and lasting change, and she provides tangible steps to do so.

a group of young people outside
It Starts with Us
Essay

It Starts with Us

Young Women’s Reflections on Performance Intersecting with Climate

30 April 2020

Beth Osnes shares her experience working on performances with young women at the intersection of feminism and climate change.