Amara (Lekhani Chirwa) meets Bridgette (Daneka Etchells) at a protest, one of them ‘hippy, green save-the-planet’ things. She’s just popped out to grab some milk and now she’s late - and there's a flood coming.

BURNOUT is ShyBairn Theatre’s latest show written in collaboration with Nicole Acquah, developed with climate activists in the UK and devised by the company. A two-hander play with audience interaction. 

The show stems from Wretched Of The Earth’s ‘Open Letter to Extinction Rebellion’ in 2019 stating: “Greta Thunberg calls world leaders to act by reminding them that “Our house is on fire”. For many of us, the house has been on fire for a long time.”

BURNOUT tells the story of these people; the working-class and people of colour excluded from mainstream narratives on climate change. The show is a call to action for audiences to think about privilege, activism and climate justice.

BURNOUT was developed at Live Theatre in Newcastle,

artsdepot and New Diorama Broadgate in London, kindly funded by Arts Council England.

First performed at Live Theatre on Friday 14th May 2021 (Livestreamed)

Live performance sharing at artsdepot on Thursday 2nd December 2021

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BURNOUT is available to tour in Autumn 2022. 

Production shots by Tom Johnson (TJ MOV)