In March this year, the United Nations released its "State of the Global Climate report." It notes that, “globally, each of the last ten years has been one of the ten hottest years on record.”
The consequences of that are terrifying. Not only have sea levels risen to the highest level since measurements began, but “tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards in 2024 led to the highest number of new displacements recorded for the past 16 years, destroying homes, critical infrastructure, forests, farmland and biodiversity.”
Meanwhile, the oil barons have decided to step up oil production. BP declared it was cutting its investments in renewables as it increases “its investments in oil and gas by about 20% to $10bn (£7.9bn) a year… Shell and Norwegian company Equinor have also scaled back plans to invest in green energy”.
No wonder one of the activists depicted in this play says he “gets upset about these serial killers destroying the planet.” He’s part of a group of non-violent climate activists meeting in a community hub waiting for the arrival of their leader, Geoff, who seems to be missing. In his absence, Kemi (Tinuola Ibrahim) takes the lead.
In a series of short scenes, we get to know a bit about each character. Mikel (Usmaan Khan) is frustrated at the lack of action and wants something more dramatic, including a revolution. He lives with his brother Ayman (Adil Rehman), who works for Shell and pays Mikel’s rent. Getting pulled accidentally and tentatively into a group meeting, Ayman also decides to pay the group's twelve-week back rent for the hire of a room.
Another accidental member of the group is Gagan (Gurjot Dhaliwal), who stumbles upon the group while heading for an event at the centre on How to Become a Millionaire In A Year.
Gagan initially seems apolitical and more interested in becoming rich, but she is disturbed by video footage of weather-induced mudslides killing family in India. It is a tragedy that will increasingly radicalise her.
The other characters are Bianca (Martha Wrench), who uses the centre for collecting groceries for a food bank, and the activists Desmond (Stephan Hunte-Wilson) and Noor (Zain Ahmad).
In the second part of the play, the group’s attention shifts from discussions on books about climate change and what they should do given the upcoming COP to focusing on saving a local green area that includes trees that are over a 100 years old from being built on.
As bulldozers gather near the area, they put up a tent encampment to prevent their destruction, refusing a suggestion that they set fire to the bulldozers. Among the reasons given for their quick dismissal of that idea, one of their number points out that the National Borders Act could be used on protesters breaking the law to remove their citizenship if their parents have come from another country.
Although the multiple short scenes limit the development of characters and any particular storyline, it is a well-performed show that reflects the current frustration and uncertainties of many in the climate movement, along with the thread of hope they often share.