Today is Earth Day, an annual event concentrating on environmental issues which has been running since 1970. There are environment-focused events ongoing around the globe, including the Global Climate Summit and a three day digital programme run by the coordinators of Earth Day at www.earthday.org. To mark the day in suitably stagey fashion, we’ve rounded up some stagey stuff with an environmental message. There’s something here for all ages including a show made by kids for grown-ups and a pedal-powered children’s family adventure.
Song For Nature: Live on Sky Arts at 9pm Today (22 April 2021)
Tonight at 9pm tune into Sky Arts for Song Nature, a specially created concert from The London Climate Change Festival. Filmed over three days on stage at the London Coliseum, and all around this iconic building, the free to watch even is a unique hybrid of dance, song, music and activism featuring :
- Nathan Evans singing his No1 song, the sea shanty, Wellerman with the ENO Chorus
- Brian May and Kerry Ellis singing a brand new song, and a stunning new arrangement of a well loved classic
- Akram Khan performing an extract from DESH, accompanied by a choir of children singing Alleluia by Jocelyn Pook
- Rob Brydon singing Lullaby with the ENO orchestra
- Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé performing a new solo choreographed by William Tuckett
- Oscar winning composer Rachel Portman’s new piece, Earth Song, performed by the celebrated London Voices
- Danielle De Niese singing a new composition by Hal Cazalet, Song For Nature
- Sam Lee and his Nest Collective performing classic British folk songs to the accompaniment of nightingales.
- Classic environmental texts spoken by David Suchet, Sheila Atim, Michelle Terry and Jonah Hauer King.
- NHS nurse and Britain’s Got Talent sensation Beth Porch singing Resolution Song
- Gerald Finley singing from A Cunning Little Vixen with the ENO orchestra
- A new company of young musical stars singing Stephen Sondheim’s Our Time
- Will Todd’s renewal sung by the ENO Chorus
Interleaved amongst the performances are contributions from some of the leading environmental activists of the day, including Bella Lack (Youth ambassador for The Born Free Foundation), Natalie Fee (from City to Sea and authoress of ‘How to Save the World for Free’), Rokiah Yaman (from MadLeap), Dr Chantelle Rizan and Dr Helen Kingston (two leading voices in the new marriage of health care and enviromnental responsibility), Hannah Peck (from Cool Earth), Stuart Ramsay (from Sky News and whose reports of the global consequences of climate change will be included in the programme) and Abbey Wright (who has spear-headed the effort to get one song, the Resolution Song, to be sung all over the world.)
How to save a rock: A bike-powered family-friendly comedy (suitable for ages 7+): Touring digitally from 25 April
It’s 2026, and we’ve found a letter from the last ever polar bear. He’s somehow ended up at the top of Scotland. We’re going to save him. Join us on a wild polar bear chase, through peat bogs and protests. We might just need your help…
After a successful run at Vault Festival 2020, Pigfoot Theatre are bringing their pedal-powered family comedy to the digital stage, via partner venues Slung Low, Poplar Union, Camden People’s Theatre, Pound Arts & The Albany. How To Save A Rock is a bike-powered family comedy from Pigfoot Theatre about how to still have hope. The show is entirely carbon-neutral, with lighting is powered by solar-power and a bike cycled live on stage, production materials are recycled and recyclable, and all sound effects created live, and we offset the digital footprint of streaming.
They will be streaming to schools in the local area, as well as publicly from their partner venues on the following days:
Poplar Union: 25 April
Camden People’s Theatre: 26 April
Pound Arts: 1 to 3 May
The Albany: 8 May
Tickets are available for free (or ‘Pay What Decide’). Find out more and book at www.pigfoottheatre.com/how-to-save-a-rock
Climate Change Catastrophe! (Made by children, for grown-ups): Free on YouTube from 6 May 2021
Hundreds of primary school children are working with Newcastle University climate scientists and engineers, singer-songwriter Katie Doherty and Cap-a-Pie theatre company on a new show about one of the biggest challenges of our time – climate change. Climate Change Catastrophe! is about what children think about climate change – their hopes, fears and ideas for the future. The result is a journey into the mind of an eight-year-old that will really make you think.
Created in partnership with Newcastle University’s School of Engineering, the show offers inspiring perspectives on climate change from primary school children, with help from climate scientists and engineers, and will be performed by professional actors for an audience of all ages.
Climate Change Catastrophe! will be available as a free six part series on YouTube from 12 May 2021. An accompanying education pack and creative activities will also be available. To find out more visit www.cap-a-pie.co.uk/climate-change-catastrophe