Performing Planet Activism is a strand of intimate UCL performances, workshops and interactions exploring some of the pressing environmental issues of the climate crisis. Events and activities bring together UCL research, climate activism and artistic interpretation in unique ways that inspire action and create space for dialogue.

Performing Planet Activism launched with a 10-day series of events in January and February 2023, engaging with topics including the possibilities of a better Earth future, the science behind the declining UK farmland pond, the heritage and mythology of the river Fleet, the ways in which British bat species use echo, public participation in urban spaces, colonial capitalist mining practices, and the challenges and potential of island nations.

Participants included Shybairn Theatre; composer Heloise Tunstall-Behrens, UCL climate scientists Professor Ilan Kelman and Dr Peter Irvine, Fleet Primary School and writer Robert Macfarlane; poets Chris Redmond, Madi Maxwell-Libby and Amina Atiq, musicians Alice Boyd, Tom Fisher and Dot.i. and scientist Helen Greaves; artist Oliver Cloke; Global Generation Fellows of Story Garden; activist and researcher Nikolett Puskás and artist Hector Dyer; Echo Choir director Sarah Latto and artist/anthropologist Hermione Spriggs; writer/performer Meg Hodgson and London Mining Network; and Hot Poets (Chris Redmond and Liv Torc) and educator/researcher Catalina Spataru.

Watch the film

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Full list of past events

Theatre Making & Climate Activism Workshop - Tuesday 31 January 2023, 9.30am (free - PhD students and early career researchers only)
This free workshop for PhD students and early career researchers will be led by ShyBairn Theatre, who will share their practice of collaborating with UK climate activists and academics.
Read our Q&A with the 'Theatre Making & Climate Activism' team

The Work of Many Hands - Wednesday 1 February, 7.30pm
This three-act performance seeks to imagine the possibilities of a better Earth future, and has been co-created by composer Heloise Tunstall-Behrens, UCL climate scientists Professor Ilan Kelman and Dr Peter Irvine, and writer Robert Macfarlane.

The Secret Life of Ponds Workshop: Creating Water-Inspired Poetry - Thursday 2 February 9.30am
Working with performance poet Chris Redmond and scientist Helen Greaves, this introductory workshop will introduce the science behind the declining UK farmland pond and offer creative routes in to these ideas through poetry.

The Secret Life of Ponds Workshop: Creating Music from the Sounds of the Pond - Thursday 2 February 2pm
Led by sound artist Tom Fisher and scientist Helen Greaves, this workshop inspired by underwater pond sounds will introduce the Borderlands Granular iPad app to create dynamic and organic 'sound environments' and compositions.

The Secret Life of Ponds Performance: Poetry, Music and Freshwater Science - Thursday 2 February 7pm
Join us for an evening of poetry, music and freshwater science in an exploration of the declining UK farmland pond and their extraordinary biodiversity.

Family Event: Creativity around Climate Change: Wind Power - Saturday 4 February (free)
How do we understand the changing world around us? Working in small groups, families will be on a search and find mission for ways to creatively harness wind energy.

Hidden Rivers of London - Tuesday 7 February 7pm
Join Global Generation Fellows of Story Garden, a thriving community garden behind the British Library, as they share personal water-based memories, reveal the heritage of the river Fleet, and explore its mythology. The performance is followed by a creative writing workshop.

Our Place in the Game: Public Engagement through Live Performance Workshop - Wednesday 8 February 9.30am (free - PhD students and early career researchers)
This workshop for PhD students and early career researchers interested in the climate crisis and public participation in urban spaces will explore Our Place in the Game, an on-site performance project.
Read our Q&A with the 'Our Place in the Game' team

Echo Sounding in the Grant Museum: a bat-based voice and listening workshop - Wednesday 8 February 6pm
This experimental workshop explores the medium of echo. Beginning with simple vocal exercises and scores for deep listening, and inspired by British bat species, we will work together to open our senses.

Moonface - Thursday 9 February 6.30pm
This live solo theatre show uses clowning to explore colonial, capitalist mining practices and how the models created on Earth are being utilised to inform the future of interplanetary travel. The performance is followed by a series of short talks.

The World Is an Island - Friday 10 February 7pm
Part performance, part exhibit, part exploratory poetry workshop, The World Is an Island is a transformative​​ 90-minute adventure into science fact and poetry power.

Family Event: Creativity around Climate Change - Flower Power and Petal Prints - Saturday 11 February (free)
How do we understand the changing world around us? Learn about the power of the sun for plant life and make petal prints from leaves and flowers.