When The Contingency Plan premiered at London’s Bush Theatre in 2009, the conversation surrounding climate change was quite different from the one we are having now. In 2009, many people were unsure whether climate change was a man-made or natural phenomenon, and it wasn’t uncommon for people to ask scientists ‘do you believe in climate change?’.
The plot of Steve Waters’ two plays, On The Beach and Resilience, may have felt to the audience like an ominous warning, storm clouds on the horizon so to speak, but for many, the exciting and engaging productions, were certainly considered to be a foreboding portrait of a possible near future.
13 years later and it seems that The Contingency Plan is no longer about a near future at all. It all seems frighteningly familiar. Extreme weather events are increasingly common, sea levels are rising faster than ever before and this summer we all felt the heat as temperatures reached new highs. Scientists have been battling to be heard and politicians have come under fire for not doing enough to stem the tide of climate related issues.
MAKING SURE THAT THE SCIENCE IS RIGHT
The Contingency Plan has been brought right up to date, specially for the Crucible’s run. And to ensure that art really does reflect life, writer Steve Waters has been in conversation with British Antarctic Survey; the world leading centre for polar science and polar operations.
These discussions have assisted Steve with his development of the two plays, and informed his account of lead character Dr Will Paxton, Glaciologist and government advisor.
In the plays, Will has recently returned from a research trip, working in an area that is a part of British Antarctic Survey’s research; how changes to the Antarctic ice sheets affects sea level all over the world. As you may have guessed, and how this BAS video shows, the news is far from good. But can Will get anyone to listen before it’s too late?
Book your tickets now to find out!
The Contingency Plan, runs at the Crucible from Friday 14 October - Saturday 5 November.
