World premiere of climate-disaster play at UVic

People across Canada came together to help one another during recent climate disasters, and now Neworld Theatre is bringing those true-life stories to the stage. Eyes of the Beast:Climate Disaster Survivor Stories is the first full-length documentary theatre production based upon on-the-ground climate disaster reporting and will have its world premiere at the University of Victoria's Phoenix Theatre from Sept. 16-21.

Working with interview transcripts from hundreds of British Columbians on the frontlines of climate change, Vancouver's internationally renowned Neworld Theatre has painted a portrait of 30 ordinary people living in extraordinary times-and a province under pressure from the impacts of climate change.

"British Columbians have experienced so much loss because of the heat, fire, smoke and floods that have afflicted us," says Alen Dominguez, Neworld managing director. "But what stood out to our playwrights was how people supported one another through those disasters-and the need for more support from people in power."

Lytton residents Patsy Gessey and Owen survey the townsite, which was devastated during the 2021 Lytton Creek Fire. Gessey's testimony, co-created by Climate Disaster Project co-founder Francesca Fionda, is one of more than 30 featured in Eyes of the Beast. (CDP Photo/Jen Osborne).

Eyes of the Beast is based on interviews conducted by students at UVic and five other BC post-secondary institutions involved with UVic's Climate Disaster Project, an award-winning international teaching newsroom that partners with disaster-affected people to share their stories using trauma-informed techniques.

"Climate change is happening in the here and now," says Climate Disaster Project founder Sean Holman, also the Wayne Crookes Professor in Environmental and Climate Journalism with UVic's Department of Writing. "People know that, regardless of what they think is the cause-and they want to talk about the impacts it's having on their day-to-day lives, and what can be done about them. This is an opportunity to bring those conversations into the community."

Every performance of Eyes of the Beast will include a survey and talkback session giving audiences the opportunity to reflect on the stories they've just heard and share their own experiences of climate disasters. The show's creative team also features the talents of UVic Theatre alumni, including director Chelsea Haberlin and co-writer Sebastien Archibald.

University of Victoria student Jordan Kovacs conducts a trauma-informed interview during the Royal BC Museum's Climate Change Curious event. As part of the University of Victoria's Climate Disaster Project, students such as Kovacs work with disaster survivors across the country to share their stories. (CDP Photo/Phil McLachlan).

Founded in 2021, the Climate Disaster Project has trained hundreds of students at 13 post-secondary institutions to work on the frontlines of this ongoing humanitarian crisis by creating an extensive archive of eyewitness accounts. Nearly 300 testimonies have been collected from disaster survivors and shared in local, national and international publications, as well as national radio and television broadcasts.

The Climate Disaster Project's work aligns with UVic's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of good health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, climate action and life on land.

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A media kit containing images is available on Dropbox.

The cast of Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Survivor Stories: Jessica Wong, Danica Charlie, Sarah Conway, Vuk Prodanovic.Lytton residents Patsy Gessey and Owen survey the townsite, which was devastated during the 2021 Lytton Creek Fire. Gessey's testimony, co-created by Climate Disaster Project co-founder Francesca Fionda, is one of more than 30 featured in Eyes of the Beast. (CDP Photo/Jen Osborne).University of Victoria student Jordan Kovacs conducts a trauma-informed interview during the Royal BC Museum's Climate Change Curious event. As part of the University of Victoria's Climate Disaster Project, students such as Kovacs work with disaster survivors across the country to share their stories. (CDP Photo/Phil McLachlan).

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