THE BOY AND THE SUNFLOWER: THE ROLE OF THEATRE IN COMMUNICATING ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES THROUGH THE CREATION OF LIVING STAGES (original) (raw)

2017, Building Sustainability with the Arts: Proceedings of the 2nd National EcoArts Australis Conference

As we confront a plethora of increasing environmental challenges, the arts can play a valuable role in engaging young people and their families in the reimagination of urban spaces and the co-creation of a thriving future. This paper explores how ecological arts projects not only have the potential to involve children in developing a greater understanding and appreciation of nature, but also the ability to celebrate young people’s capacity to directly contribute to their environments. Using an example from my own creative practice, I examine how a Scottish eco-theatre project (Uprooted, Eco Drama, Glasgow 2015) engaged children in urban food growing through storytelling, gardening and stage design. Uprooted was developed as part of The Living Stage project, a global initiative that combines stage design, permaculture and community engagement to create recyclable, biodegradable and edible performance spaces. Part theatre, part garden and part food growing demonstration, The Living Stage considers ecological principles and environmental impact as opportunities rather than constraints. As each living stage evolves out of a direct response to the localities of site, ecology and community, no project is ever the same. The stage design for Uprooted involved creating a travelling garden with and for children that could brighten up Glasgow’s concrete playgrounds and public spaces; fusing live performance with living plants. The project employed four Glasgow primary schools in co-designing, growing and building a sustainable portable stage, allowing them to be active contributors rather than passive recipients of the work. Uprooted highlighted the benefits of contributive, community and place-based pedagogies in advancing children’s agency in environmental prosperity. Uprooted film link: https://vimeo.com/142504560 Citation: Beer, Tanja. (2017). "The Boy and the Sunflower: the role of Theatre in communicating ecological processes through the creation of living stages." Building Sustainability with the Arts: Proceedings of the 2nd National EcoArts Australis Conference. Edited by David Curtis. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.