- For Josh Wilson it was a terrifying wildfire that threatened his town and destroyed the side of a mountain.
- Zoe O’Donnell endured the great freeze that paralysed a large chunk of Texas.
- Gabby Montejo survived the vast typhoon which devastated her home in the Philippines.
- Alex Negrila witnessed how sea temperature rises have devastated the once-vast ancient coral beds in the seas off the Dominican Republic.
These are some of the encounters with the realities of the climate crisis which have informed no one is coming to save us, which premieres at the Edinburgh Fringe.
It is a US-Scottish partnership between playwright Lewis Hetherington and Pepperdine Scotland.
Lewis, from Lanarkshire, specialises collaborative work – in this case the lived experience of the young Americans in the cast and crew.
Concerned that the theatre world is failing to do enough to engage and challenge audiences about climate change, his aim has been to create a story addressing the issue at a human level.
Many of the students he worked with have experienced extreme events – from wildfires to typhoons. Others have witnessed environmental degradation and climatic shifts.
All believe there is an urgent need for action.
Alex Negrila saw how rising sea temperatures are destroying the vast ancient coral reefs of the Dominican Republic when she was involved in a restoration project.
“The sight left me awestruck, but not in a good way. I thought ‘do people know about this, and if they do how can they go about their daily lives?’.
She believes there is a collective failure to tackle the problem.
Alex said: “We need to stop putting the accountability on somebody else, saying ‘it’s not my job’ or ‘it’s the next generation’s job’. If we keep saying that, at one point, there won’t be a next generation.”
Josh Wilson recalled the fear of a wildfire spreading towards his town while they were at a baseball game.
He said: “We saw the flames grow from something pretty small. We were worried about if it was going to continue spreading towards us because it was getting very close.”
At the other extreme Zoe O’Donnell remembers the impact on millions of Texans when a great freeze hit, knocking out power, communications and water.
She said: “It was a very hard and scary time, and it was during Covid. No one knew what was happening.”
Zoe worries that action on climate change always gets pushed to the side as we face up to other crises that seem more immediate.
She said: “Climate change is continually affecting our planet, and we can see the effects every single day. In the long run, that is going to be the most important thing. And when we run out of time, we’ll have nothing left.”
Gabby Montejo and her family were left helpless when a hurricane hit their home in a coastal area of the Philippines.
She said: “Water was leaking through the rooftop deck and rising from the ground. We were in a coastal area, all the storm surges were just coming in and the water was rising. There was water from all directions. There was nothing we could do besides wait it out.”
no one is coming to save us (a world premiere) begins with young people gathering on a mountaintop for a party. A wildfire sparks in the forest below. Can they save themselves?
It then explores what can be done if the powerful refuse to act in a crisis or are even complicit in the destruction.
If the petitions, placards and protests are ignored what’s next and where are the red lines?
Lewis said: “For the students I have been working with the climate crisis is an absolute reality. They are witnessing an accelerating and worsening cycle of extreme events, plus wider climatic change and environmental destruction.
“These young people are sounding the alarm, pointing to the need for action and feeling the frustration of worldwide inertia.
“This play has been closely informed by their thoughts, experiences, fears – and ultimately their hope that sense will prevail.
“The theatre world has not done enough to address the issue of climate change, of creating compelling and human scale stories about this immense catastrophe.
“I’ve have been privileged to work with a group of young people who firmly believe that the stage is the arena to do this, the perfect place to challenge and engage.”
Pepperdine Scotland is a multiple award-winning cultural and artistic exchange between the Department of Theatre at California’s Pepperdine University and leading members of the Scottish theatre community.
It has a formidable track record and a powerful reputation for presenting high-quality drama that addresses pressing of contemporary issues.
Lewis is familiar to Fringe-goers, having won two Fringe Firsts. His work has been presented all over Scotland and the rest of the world.
Pepperdine Scotland past Fringe productions
- 2012: Why Do You Stand There in The Rain? Peter Arnott, Fringe First Award
- 2014: Forget Fire, by J C Marshall. British Theatre Guide ★★★★ Three Weeks in Edinburgh ★★★★
- 2016: The Interference by Lynda Radley. Fringe First and Broadway Baby Bobby awards
- 2018: The Abode by Davey Anderson. British Theatre Guide ★★★★★ The Herald ★★★★BritishTheatre.com ★★★★
- 2022: Americana: A Murder Ballad by Morna Young. Broadway Baby ★★★★★ British Theatre Guide★★★★ FringeReview Must See Show.
-Ends-
Notes for editors
- For more about Pepperdine Scotland see https://www.pepperdinedrama.com
- For more about Lewis Hetherington see https://www.lewishetherington.com
Listings Details
- Company: Pepperdine Scotland
- Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Beside (Venue 33)
- Time: 11:30
- Dates: 31 Jul to 13 Aug
- Duration: 70 mins
- Ticket prices: Jul 31-Aug 1 £10, Aug 2-6, 9-11 £14, concessions £13, Aug 7-8, 12-13 £12, concessions £11.
- Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com
Cast
- Chloe Higgins (Lily)
- Fatima Reyes (Maddy)
- Gabby Montejo (Shy)
- Joshua Rogers (Bear)
- Tessa Hemphill (Lucy)
- Nathan Skenderian (Darryl)
- Zoe O’Donnell (Becky)
- Josh Wilson (Toby)
- Isabelle Titzer (Jess)
- Soren Thayne Miller (The Soldier)
- Jamison Rosales (The Drifter)
- Hailey Lee (The Bird Girl)
- Jackson Cottrell (The Diver)