A Controversial Play — and What It Taught Me About the Psychology of Climate | David Finnigan | TED

Summary

David, a playwright from southeast Australia, penned 'Kill Climate Deniers,' a provocative play about eco-terrorists holding the government hostage to demand climate change action. Initially facing backlash and cancellation, the play's transformative journey into an album and walking tour eventually led to successful stage productions worldwide. David engaged with climate deniers, realizing that while their science denial is misguided, they grasp the profound changes climate change will bring. He challenges the audience to confront the reality and act, not just acknowledge, the impending transformation of our world due to climate change.

Takeaways

• 🎭 David, a playwright from Ngunnawal country in Australia, wrote a provocative play titled 'Kill Climate Deniers' to spark a conversation about the intersection of climate change and politics.
• 🌐 The play's plot revolves around eco-terrorists who take over Australia's Parliament House during a concert, demanding immediate action on climate change.
• 🔥 The provocative title was not meant to target real individuals but to critique the industry funded by oil and gas companies that sowed doubt about climate science.
• 🚫 Initial reactions included calls to shut down the play and accusations of inciting terrorism, leading to the cancellation of the first production due to safety concerns.
• 🎵 Unable to stage the play, David and musician Reuben Engel adapted it into an album, taking the narrative to nightclubs and unconventional venues.
• 🚶 An unauthorized walking tour of Parliament House was launched, allowing people to experience the play's narrative in the actual setting, enhancing engagement with the audience.
• 🌏 Despite initial setbacks, the play eventually made it to the stage in 2018 and was performed in various cities worldwide, indicating growing acceptance and interest.
• 💬 David engaged with real climate deniers, discovering that their opposition stemmed from a fear of the lifestyle changes and societal disruptions that acknowledging climate change would entail.
• 🌱 The play and its reception underscored the gap between accepting the science of climate change and internalizing its profound implications for our daily lives and future.
• 🌟 David concludes by suggesting that we should learn from climate deniers' awareness of the consequences, and live in accordance with our beliefs about climate change to prepare for the inevitable changes.

Q & A

Who is David and where is he from?

David is a playwright from Ngunnawal country, which is the unceded lands of the Ngunnawal people in southeast Australia.

What is the title of David's play and what is its main theme?

The title of David's play is 'Kill Climate Deniers.' The play's main theme is to start a conversation about the intersection of climate change and politics, specifically what happens when the urgent issue of climate change meets the challenges of political inaction.

What was the initial reaction to the play 'Kill Climate Deniers'?

The initial reaction to the play was outrage, particularly from conservative politicians and right-wing media outlets like the Murdoch press, Breitbart, and Infowars. Some accused the play of being an 'incitement to terrorism.'

Why was the first production of the play cancelled?

The first production was cancelled due to safety concerns for the actors, as the theater company did not have the resources for lawyers or a crisis communications team to handle the backlash and potential legal issues.

How did David adapt the play into an album?

David's musician friend Reuben Engel turned the play into an album by sampling dialogue from the play and incorporating it into original electronic music tracks.

What was the unique way the play was experienced by audiences when it was not performed in theaters?

Audiences experienced the play through an unauthorized covert walking tour of Parliament House, where they downloaded a special version of the album and listened to the music and story while walking around the real-life setting of Australia's halls of power.

When and where was the play finally performed on stage after its initial cancellation?

The play was finally performed on stage in 2018 at the Griffin Theatre in Sydney, followed by productions in Prague, London, Los Angeles, and other locations.

What unexpected group of people started reaching out to David after the play gained more attention?

After the play gained more attention, David started hearing from real climate deniers, who are regular, normal people, not just fossil-fuel pundits or right-wing journalists.

What misconceptions about climate change did some deniers express to David?

Some deniers expressed that climate change is a made-up excuse for top-down intervention, aiming to stifle freedoms, control diets, choke rural communities, and promote massive global migration.

How does David feel about the actions of people who accept the science of climate change but do not act on it?

David feels that while many people accept the science of climate change, they often do not process the consequences and act as if it's not real, which he refers to as being 'soft deniers' or 'stealth deniers.'

What lesson does David think can be learned from climate deniers?

David believes that climate deniers understand the consequences of the science and live what they believe, which is something he thinks people who accept climate change should learn from, as they often do not live in accordance with their beliefs.