Production Report: ANTHROPOCENE

Executive Summary

ANTHROPOCENE is an experimental theatrical production scheduled for August 2025 at the Baron’s Court Theatre. The performance integrates a coming-of-age narrative with a poetic exploration of planetary history to address themes of environmental crisis, loss, and intergenerational responsibility. The production’s core narrative and thematic elements demonstrate a significant alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning climate action, health, education, and biodiversity.

Thematic Analysis and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The production’s narrative framework serves as a powerful medium for exploring critical global challenges articulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

H3: Central Narrative and SDG 13: Climate Action

The primary plot follows the protagonist, Diana, as she undertakes her late mother’s mission to avert a “climate catastrophe.” This narrative directly engages with the core tenets of SDG 13: Climate Action, which urges immediate action to combat climate change and its impacts. The play dramatizes the urgency of this goal by framing it as a personal and inherited quest.

H3: Human Health and Planetary Well-being (SDG 3)

The inciting incident of the play is the death of Diana’s mother from cancer, a theme that resonates with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. By linking personal tragedy with a global environmental crisis, the production suggests an intrinsic connection between human health and the health of the planet, highlighting the wide-ranging consequences of environmental degradation.

H3: Intergenerational Responsibility and Youth Empowerment (SDG 4 & SDG 16)

As a coming-of-age story, ANTHROPOCENE focuses on a young protagonist “navigating a turbulent future.” This aligns with the principles of intergenerational equity that underpin the SDGs. The narrative champions the role of youth in driving change, a concept supported by:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The play underscores the importance of knowledge transfer (via the mother’s notebook) and awareness in empowering the next generation to address complex global issues.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The protagonist’s quest for a solution in a “world on fire” reflects a desire for a stable and just world for future generations.

H3: Planetary History and Biodiversity (SDG 14 & SDG 15)

A parallel narrative thread offers a “poetic, visual retelling of the Earth’s origin.” This element connects to the foundational importance of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, as outlined in:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

By meditating on the planet’s history from the Big Bang to the present, the production provides a mythic context for the current environmental crisis, emphasizing what is at stake.

Production Details

Creative and Performance Team

• Directors: Emily Hawkins, James Christensen
• Principal Cast: Rosie Yates, Naomi Paxton, Patrick Strain, Jasper Price

Target Audience Profile

The production is designed to engage specific audiences who are receptive to its thematic and artistic focus:

• Young adults and emerging generations concerned with global futures.
• Patrons of experimental, movement-based, and multimedia theatre.
• Individuals interested in the intersection of science, storytelling, and art.

Performance Schedule

• Venue: Baron’s Court Theatre
• Dates: 13-17 August 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM daily

Artistic Methodology

The production employs a multi-disciplinary approach to convey its themes, blending narrative realism with abstract performance.

Key Theatrical Elements

• Experimental Movement: Utilizes physical performance to blur the lines between mythic storytelling and the protagonist’s personal journey.
• Multimedia Integration: A collaborative production that blends sound, image, and text to create a visually and aurally arresting experience.
• Intimate Staging: The choice of a fringe venue aims to provide an intimate and atmospheric theatrical experience, fostering a direct connection between the performance and its audience.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which describes the play “ANTHROPOCENE,” directly and indirectly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its themes and narrative.

• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The article explicitly states the play is a “theatrical meditation on environmental collapse” and that the central plot involves a mission to “save the world from climate catastrophe.” The title itself, “ANTHROPOCENE,” refers to the geological epoch defined by significant human impact on Earth’s climate and ecosystems.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The play serves as an educational tool. The article mentions it uses “science storytelling” and is designed to speak directly to “Young audiences and emerging adults navigating a turbulent future.” By presenting complex environmental issues through an accessible and emotional medium (“at once mythic and intimate”), it aims to raise awareness and foster understanding, which is a key aspect of quality education for sustainable development.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This goal is addressed through the play’s sub-themes. The plot is initiated when the main character’s “mother dies of cancer,” touching upon non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the play explores the emotional aftermath, focusing on “parental loss,” “grieving,” and “growing up in a world on fire,” which are all directly related to mental health and well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the themes and purpose of the play as described in the article, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.”
   • Justification: The play “ANTHROPOCENE” is an initiative aimed at raising awareness about “climate catastrophe” and “environmental collapse.” The article highlights that it is a “platform for a fresh voice in theatre” and uses “science storytelling” to engage “young audiences,” directly contributing to education and awareness-raising on climate change.
2. Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles…”
   • Justification: The play functions as a form of “education for sustainable development.” By asking fundamental questions like “Why do we want to save the world? What are we really fighting for?”, it encourages critical thinking about humanity’s role and the motivations for environmental action, thereby helping learners acquire knowledge and perspectives needed to promote sustainability.
3. Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.”
   • Justification: The article connects to this target in two ways. First, it introduces “cancer” as a key plot point, which is a major non-communicable disease. Second, it explicitly mentions the play explores themes of “parental loss” and “grieving,” which are critical aspects of mental health and well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being a promotional piece for a theatrical production, does not contain quantitative data or official indicators. However, the existence and nature of the play itself can be seen as an implied qualitative indicator.

• Implied Indicator for Targets 13.3 and 4.7: The existence of cultural and artistic initiatives focused on climate education.
  • Explanation: The play “ANTHROPOCENE” is a tangible example of an activity designed to fulfill the goals of Target 13.3 and 4.7. It is described as a “bold fusion of coming-of-age realism and experimental performance” that serves as a “platform” for “science storytelling.” The creation and performance of such works can be considered an indicator of the extent to which a society is engaging in education and awareness-raising on climate change and sustainable development through diverse media.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: The integration of mental health and disease awareness into cultural narratives.
  • Explanation: The play’s choice to incorporate themes of “cancer,” “parental loss,” and “grieving” into its story about climate change implies a growing public discourse and cultural awareness surrounding mental health and non-communicable diseases. The production itself acts as an indicator that these topics are being addressed in public forums like the theatre.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theatre-news.com