Creating a Climate for Change: Playback and Panel show

By Danny Diesendorf

This public playback panel performance drew over two-hundred and seventy people to Northcote Town Hall; one of Melbourne Playback’s largest ever public theatre performances.

The event created the space to hear stories from the community about the many ways people react and want to act on this enormous issue. This event was rich because it crossed between both intellectual, practical territory and the justifiably strong emotions that many people have around this issue which brings with it such threat.

The performance was often at its most moving when people spoke of many things they love deeply, such as their children and the places they have connections with, in context of the threat of runaway climate change.

The discussion through Q&A with the panellists and then through the medium of Playback theatre was wide-ranging. Topics and stories opened up over the evening included:

• Audience members witnessing or being part of positive changes, whether acting politically on the issue or making changes in their own lifestyles;
• The impacts audience members have already seen in their environment, on their lives and sense of purpose.
• Anger and confusion seeing some leaders in government and business blocking or undoing effective action on climate;
• People’s journeys through fear, despair, motivation, involvement and reflection.

The event was supported with the volunteer efforts from the dedicated team at Darebin Climate Action Now.

The Playback performance was preceded by three speakers; Lucy Best, Professor Rob Adams and Stephen Bygrave who brought their diverse experience to talk about how their work has contributed to implementing solutions and the path they’ve been on to become involved in the work they do.

In the words of Vivian Langford (of 3CR radio) reviewing the event:

“It is fascinating to hear both the hard headed solutions to climate change, from the panel and Q&A in the first half, and then the subjective side from the audience. The “Oh Shit” moment when they realise we have to do something about it. Followed by the musicians and actors creating a new narrative for our times…Melbourne’s Playback Theatre had a lot to offer as objective action on climate is so often undermined by fearful emotions and apathy.”