Theatre for Climate Justice: Zimbabwe
El Niño – Zimbabwe
Theatre for Climate Justice | August 2024
Get ready for an exciting adventure with El Niño!
This lively and imaginative theatre show, brought to you by the Theatre for Climate Justice Project and the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy, blends physical theatre, clowning, and playful storytelling to bring to life the challenges and incredible resilience of communities facing the impacts of El Niño.
El Niño was created by the Theatre for Climate Justice project, addressing pressing environmental issues such as climate change, garbage pollution, habitat destruction, and water contamination. The story follows a group of friends who believe a mythical monster, El Niño, is responsible for these problems, only to realize that they are the root cause.
This audience-interactive show was devised by a team of Zimbabwean actors and facilitated by Hannah Gaff and Ahmed Moussa. The collaborative process began with research around climate change specific to Zimbabwe, focusing on issues like water pollution, factory waste, and the destruction of farmland and animal habitats.
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.
