Podcast: Molly Anne Sweeney on Decommissioned

Writer Molly Anne Sweeney on Decommissioned

On our Runn Radio show this week we were joined by writer Molly Anne Sweeney, whose latest play, Decommissioned, is coming to Pleasance Theatre in April. It’s a funny and confronting play about how we’re meant to care for children, fall in love and stay sane while tackling the climate catastrophe.

The play was inspired by the true story of Fairbourne, the Welsh village that has been earmarked for “managed retreat” due to authorities deemed it unsustainable to defend, given predicted sea level rise. The best estimate was that the area would be abandoned between 2052 and 2062.

We chat about the play, and why climate anxiety is something that we are instilling in children. Plus we discuss whether there is a risk that with so many plays tackling climate change, whow we avoid becoming bored of the message.

Decommissioned comes to Pleasance Theatre between 10 – 15 April, and it is then hoped that it will be toured later in the year. Tickets for Pleasance are available here.

Decommissioned

Pleasance Theatre

10 – 15 April (no show on 11 April)

‘Cariad, I care about climate change too, but I live in a place where there are three buses a day and I can’t afford a Tesla!’

Elis wants to guide a class of ten-year-olds to become ‘ethical, informed citizens’. Gwen wants to tell the unvarnished truth – in the next 30 years the village they grew up in will be gone.

Inspired by the true story of Fairbourne in Wales, Decommissioned is a funny and confronting play about how we’re meant to care for children, fall in love and stay sane while tackling the climate catastrophe.

Produced by: Wise Ram Theatre
Written by: Molly Anne Sweeney
Directed by: Sofia Bagge

Tickets available here.