29/07/2019
As the cast and crew ramp up for our debut this Friday, we're paying tribute to the man that got our Swallow off the ground - our writer Henry Roberts!
Incredibly thoughtful and abundantly creative, Henry has produced one of the most electrifying, original, and pressingly urgent plays of recent memory. SWALLOWS is somehow only his second full-length play, coming off his incredibly successful debut production, LOBES, at last year's .
Henry writes: "The idea to write Swallows came about two years ago. I wanted to write about the ethical ambiguities in political action. For a long time I’ve been interested in the contradiction inherent in groups or individuals pursuing ends one may believe in but via dubious means. The radical movement is a clear example of this, some factions of which having historically used violence and destructive methods in their campaigns to protect the environment. I’m very much interested in contradictions, even in my previous work which is far less overtly political. If we didn’t elaborate on contradictions or nuances in our art, we’d have propaganda.
I’ve always believed in the severity of the , but like most people up until recently I wasn’t sure what I could honestly do. The scale of the problem was so vast. Plus, we were told by the government and media that it was up to us as individuals and consumers to modify our practices- without posing any real threat to the system or conventional way of thinking - if we wanted to solve what is ultimately an existential crisis for humanity.
In my degree I looked at resistance movements, activism and environmental politics, which helped me better understanding why past campaigns have failed and what we have to do going forward if we want to change hearts, minds, systems and policy. Writing plays about the environment is important, but it would mean nothing if we did not adhere to the values projected in our plays. Such is why the ethos of the Greenhouse is so important. I have also recently started working with the UK Youth Climate Coalition, promoting youth voices in the fight against climate change."
See his full interview here, at: https://pastebin.com/HDXPViUc
And see what else Henry has to say in SWALLOWS, debuting this FRIDAY, August 2nd, ONLY The Greenhouse by BoxedIn Theatre.
, buy tickets at:
www.thegreenhousetheatre.com/shows/theswallow.html
