The Garbage Monster – Cairo, Egypt
Applied Theatre for Climate Justice | January–June 2024
In partnership with Clowns Without Borders USA

In early 2024, we launched a brand-new physical theatre production in Egypt: The Garbage Monster, created in collaboration with Clowns Without Borders USA as the first phase of the Theatre for Climate Justice Project.

This interactive show uses applied theatre, physical comedy, and puppetry to spark dialogue and action around climate change and garbage pollution. The production toured throughout Greater Cairo, reaching displaced communities from Syria, Eritrea, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and beyond.

Through performances and puppet-making workshops, young audiences were invited to become co-creators—empowered to imagine solutions and share their voices in the global conversation about environmental justice.

Theatre for Climate Justice, founded in 2023 by Hannah Gaff and Ahmed Moussa, harnesses the power of performance to address the urgent intersections of climate change, displacement, and social justice. Through collaborative storytelling, we bring together local artists, displaced communities, and young changemakers to create impactful theatre that sparks dialogue, fosters empathy, and inspires action. Our mission is to amplify the voices of those most affected by environmental and social crises, using theatre as a catalyst for awareness, resilience, and systemic change. By engaging communities worldwide, we strive to cultivate a more just and sustainable future—one performance at a time.

Supported by funding from the Consortium on Forced Displacement, Migration & Education and in partnership with Vassar College, Clowns Without Borders USA, and organizations including the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy, Fulbright Specialist Program, U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe, and Dawar Arts Egypt, TFCJ fosters transformative theatre that emphasizes community involvement and resilience. Through interactive performances, workshops, and an upcoming online resource center, TFCJ encourages collective responsibility and equips young artists globally with the tools to create climate-focused performances in their own communities. Guided by values of curiosity, connection, and community empowerment, TFCJ strives to make theatre an active agent for climate action and justice worldwide.