UCL Performing Planet Activism

A series of performances and workshops exploring the climate crisis

Performing Planet Activism is a strand of intimate UCL performances, workshops and interactions exploring some of the pressing environmental issues of the climate crisis. Events and activities bring together UCL research, climate activism and artistic interpretation in unique ways that inspire action and create space for dialogue.

The series took place in January - February 2023 at the Grant Museum of Zoology ahead of it’s closure to the public for refurbishment. I filmed across several fascinating events including:

The Work of Many Hands: a three-act performance seeking to imagine the possibilities of a better Earth future, co-created by composer Heloise Tunstall-Behrens, UCL climate scientists Professor Ilan Kelman and Dr Peter Irvine, and writer Robert Macfarlane.

The Secret Life of Ponds: Poetry, Music and Freshwater Science: an exploration of the declining UK farmland pond and their extraordinary biodiversity from scientist Helen Greaves, poets Chris Redmond, Madi Maxwell-Libby and Amina Atiq and musicians Alice Boyd, Tom Fisher and Dot.i.

Moonface, a performance piece from Meg Hodgson made in collaboration with Professor Ilan Kelman: coordinator of UCL’s Space Health Risks Research group, exploring themes around colonial capitalist mining practices.

Performing Planet Activism is part of UCL’s Performance Lab project produced by Sylvia Kluczewski, where artists, researchers and students explore how live performance can animate research, and how research can inspire art.