Arc theatre: Waiting for Change

Pause and Play Climate Change

Last week I went to see Arc Theatre’s Waiting for Change – an improvised and interactive play at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre, in London. This play has been used to explore the issues around climate change with secondary school and adult audiences across the UK and worldwide.

The plot revolves around four commuters who are en-route to Oxford, three of them to attend a climate change conference, the other a PR executive. Their train is delayed and, as they wait, they begin to talk amongst themselves. This is when the drama unfolds.

The characters are: a PR executive on her way to the launch of a new product called “frice” – rice with no calories or nutritional value; a university student and climate change activist with a short temper; a learned climate change professor; and another professor, younger and not as established as his peer.

They begin discussing how to combat climate change, what it means, whose fault it is and what people can do to address the problem. Each character has a different take on the subject and, during the course of the action, their views clash.

Now for the interactive part. An actor calls “time out” and the play is paused. Each audience group gives their assigned actor, still in character, pointers on how they can persuade the others to their way of thinking.

The audience influences the narrative once “play” is resumed. The performance I went to explored science facts, moral views and ethical responsibilities as individuals, but each play varies according to audience participation. By advising the characters about their beliefs and deciding outcomes, the audience is key.

I found it a powerful shared experience and was heartened to see how much the subject moved people. To tackle climate change, it is vital that people are actively involved in the debate.

Directing the improvisation gives you the opportunity to consider each character’s views and see how it compares with your attitude to climate change. Waiting for Change has the potential to engage people and “win them over”, so they feel inspired to do something.