Theatre Group visit to see Kyoto

One of London’s newest theatres, Soho Place, is the ideal venue for Kyoto, as it’s designed to show plays in the round. Who would have thought that a play about Climate Change Conferences could be so riveting? Whether you care about our planet or not you could not be more engaged in the action. The play is helped tremendously by the narration that weaves its way through the action – and yes there’s a lot of action. Narrator Don Pearlman, lawyer and oil man, takes us through the various COPs (Conferences of the Parties), ending with Kyoto. This device works very well, and we are introduced to the Delegates from many countries as they sit in a semi-circle, sometimes waving their country’s nameplates to take the floor, sometimes rushing out, then rushing back to take a different seat. It made for a kaleidoscope of energy and talking in corners, perfectly illustrating the making of alliances for and against the motions on the table. We too, were issued with lanyards, as delegates or media etc. A nice touch that, coupled with the fact we also sat in a semi-circle, both making us feel part of the Conference. The cast were uniformly excellent, and the human interaction cleverly interspersed with projection. The lighting and music enhanced the production. I urge you to buy a ticket, join an NGO and become a Friend of the Earth!

Contributed by Nikki Packham