How on Earth Part 1
In the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, drought, floods, and now a global pandemic young people across the region are grappling with the worry and uncertainty of how climate change will impact on their future. Enter the “How on Earth” project, a unique collaboration bringing together workshops and theatre to support youth to feel more resilient and empowered to engage locally with climate change and ecological decline.
This regional partnership between Byron Youth Theatre and The Joyality Project received a $30,000 “Increasing Resilience to Climate Change” grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment.
As part of this grant young people from six high schools across northern NSW were provided with interactive, resilience-building workshops by The Joyality Project alongside original performances by Byron Youth Theatre.
An original theatre performance named “How on Earth” is currently in development by Byron Youth Theatre. As an integral part of the process, cast members were interviewed by Director Lisa Apostolides about their experiences of eco-anxiety, climate change and the recent pandemic. This has been powerfully woven into a physical, verbatim style production choreographed by past BYT member Ebony Webb.
“It has been a deeply moving process in creating this production as we are all in a lived experience right now every day . It is an absolute honour to work with such talented cast members who have dedicated themselves to sharing the raw, honest truth and have Ebony’s insightful choreography as a key part of this timely piece” shares Lisa.
At the heart of “How on Earth” is The Joyality Project’s youth leader training to support participants to develop personal strategies for well-being, action and adaptation to climate change impacts.
Twenty youth leaders will go on to provide support for peers in their community and co-facilitate “How on Earth” school and community workshops at the end of 2020 and into 2021.
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside BYT to support and inspire young people in our region,” says Dr Eshana Bragg, ecopsychologist and Director of The Joyality Project. “Our Joyality trainings and workshops are based on the symbiosis of personal and planetary well-being, and the joys of community, nature connection and taking positive action, even in the darkest of times.”
The Byron Youth Theatre have previously received funding from Byron Council, Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW and Northern Rivers Community Foundation to develop and perform this original production in August, and a second major production at the end of 2020.
The “How on Earth” project will also be collaborating with local emergency services, sustainability organisations and community leaders to support practical disaster preparedness of the community.
For more information about The Joyality Project visit www.joyality.org
Suggested Caption: The Byron Youth Theatre cast with Director Lisa Apostolides; and Dr Eshana Bragg, Sara Hicks and Shamila Millard of The Joyality Project.
