DESIGNER & ARTIST
BURNOUT
Set & Lighting Designer
by SHYBAIRN
Director: Caitlin Evans
Writer: Nicole Acquah
Producer: Becky Jones
Live Theatre, Newcastle, May 2021
Supported by Arts Council England
Amara (Lekhani Chirwa) meets Bridgette (Daneka Etchells) at a protest, one of them ‘hippy, green save-the-planet’ things. She’s just popped out to grab some milk and now she’s late - and there's a flood coming.
‘Burnout’ is ShyBairn Theatre’s latest show written in collaboration with Nicole Acquah, developed with climate activists in the UK and devised by the company.
The show stems from Wretched Of The Earth’s ‘Open Letter to Extinction Rebellion’ in 2019 stating: “Greta Thunberg calls world leaders to act by reminding them that “Our house is on fire”. For many of us, the house has been on fire for a long time.”
'Burnout’ tells the story of these people; the working-class and people of colour excluded from mainstream narratives on climate change. The show is a call to action for audiences to think about privilege, activism and climate justice.
Production shots by Tom Johnson (TJ MOV)