Cast announced for Kill Climate Deniers play
- Comic play Kill Climate Deniers will run at the Pleasance Theatre from 4th to 28th June 2019
- Felicity Ward is joined in the cast by Bec Hill, Kelly Paterniti, Hannah Ellis Ryan and Nathan Coenen
- Director Nic Connaughton says: "It feels right to be presenting the European premiere of David Finnigan's brave, bold and darkly satiric play now"
The cast has been revealed for the European premiere of the comic play Kill Climate Deniers.
Exploring in parallel a hostage situation as it teeters on the brink of calamity and what happened when writer David Finnigan first tried to stage this play, the production - which is coming to London's Pleasance Theatre - blends fact and fiction.
As previously announced, Felicity Ward will make her UK theatre debut as Gwen Malkin, the Environment Minister whose plan to stop climate change but is rudely interrupted when a group of eco-terrorists storm Australia's Parliament House during a Fleetwood Mac concert.
It's now been revealed that critically acclaimed stand-up Bec Hill will play the character Catch, with Kelly Paterniti (Tamara in Home And Away) as Bekken. Hannah Ellis Ryan (Katie McDonald in Coronation Street) also stars, alongside Nathan Coenen as Finig.
Producers say: "A fun action piece wrapped in a TED talk, David Finnigan's incendiary play Kill Climate Deniers has provoked, enraged and delighted audiences and critics alike.
"After running close to the line of breaking the law in Australia against the reckless use of language to incite terrorism, prompting debate in state parliament about whether his government funding should be revoked, and being targeted by Breitbart and Infowars, David Finnigan has kindled outrage to spur people out of complacency - what would it take to get instant action to combat climate change? Terrorism and a hostage situation?
"More than just a play about climate change and the end of civilisation as we know it, Kill Climate Deniers is about the power of echo chambers, about political division, about a public distrustful and disinterested in experts. This is a play about failing to talk about the issues that matter most; it features action sequences Sylvester Stallone would be proud of."
Director Nic Connaughton comments: "With climate protests taking over the streets, schools, and even British Parliament, it feels right to be presenting the European premiere of David Finnigan's brave, bold and darkly satiric play now. Whilst set within the specifics of the Australian climate change debate, it chillingly foreshadows where the public discourse in the UK could be headed. We have brought together an incredible cast of actors to bring out both the hilarity and the pathos of this startling and original new play, which is both a lesson and a warning."
Kill Climate Deniers will run from Tuesday 4th - Friday 28th June 2019 at Pleasance Theatre. As part of the run at the Pleasance, there will be the Environmental Activism Post-Show Q&A on Wednesday 19th June with Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace to discuss how to lobby for change, as well as an EcoMarket on Saturday 15th June which will offer everything from sustainable clothes to eco-food. There will also be a post-show Q&A with the cast, with the creatives and a work-in-progress performance of Think Bigly about sustainability and how you, finance and policy can be part of the solution.