Joining the cast of the European premiere of Kill Climate Deniers are Home and Away’s Kelly Paterniti as Bekken, the critically acclaimed stand-up Bec Hill as Catch and Coronation Street’s Hannah Ellis Ryan. 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 blends fact and fiction as Nathan Coenen stars as Finig (The Sleepover Club; Teen Wolf).
They will be seen alongside the previously announced Felicity Ward who will make her UK theatre debut as Environment Minister Gwen Malkin whose plan to stop climate change is rudely interrupted when a group of eco-terrorists storm Australia’s Parliament House during a Fleetwood Mac concert. 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 is at The Pleasance 4th – 28th June 2019.
