THE SHOW

THE FORMAT

Our show format is rooted in forum theatre and is unscripted, to explicitly acknowledge the challenges faced by each audience, make space for emotional responses, and inspire hope for action to make a difference at the individual, community, and global levels. A climate expert will help to open the show, chatting informally about a climate issue solicited from the audience, followed by improvised scenes and songs from performers that will explore the science and the impact of this issue in a lighthearted and hopeful way that empowers the audience to make change.

Each event will be interactive and site specific, using improvisation experts alongside academic researchers to build the show the local audience needs.

STEM EXPERTS & LOCAL MUSICIANS

The show hosts STEM experts and local musicians and holds space for audience members to speak up and/or be interviewed. These source materials are used by international improvisation experts to inspire scenes, songs and sketches that are unique to each show and community. The show is co-created, original, funny and informative. We aim to prompt discussion and change around environmental topics while finding local positive steps towards solving climate change in the area. 

IMPROVISATION

We have chosen improvisation as it is a way of co-creating and making immediate work that is responsive to the needs of any audience, opening discussion and prompting behaviour change. The issues and personality of each location require a different approach, both to climate change and to comedy, and addressing the imagination battle of adapting to climate change will be helped by an experience where the audience witnesses imagination live, as it unfolds. It’s important to us that solutions feel like fun and not work; improvisation is the perfect way to create engagement in this immediate and localised way.

CAST

Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield

Director/Performer

Órla Mc Govern

Performer

Katy Schutte

Director/Performer

​​Diane O’Connor

Performer

Luke Benson

​Performer

​Mark Cantan

Performer

​Niall McKenna

Director/Performer

​Paul Mone

Performer

Niceol Blue

​Technical Improviser

Dr. Gesche Kindermann

Climate Expert

Elaine Donovan

Producer

Tonya Lenhart

Producer

BOOK NOW

We Built This City on Rock and Coal brings scientists and theatre-makers to the island of Ireland for a co-created comedy show driven by hopepunk, climate research, music, and what matters most to the local community. It’s a show that’s fun for you, and good for the planet.

BOOK