Always on
This project successfully funded on 3rd August 2023, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 3rd August 2023, you can still support them with a donation.
Aim: We aim to use truly accessible, community based theatre to build community, explore creativity & ecological sustainability, & to entertain.
Help us to bring Passion for the Planet to the Mole Valley!
Passion for the Planet is an inspiring, moving yet laughter-filled theatre project focused around care for the planet, creativity, and legacy.
First performed in Gateshead, Passion for the Planet is now coming to the Mole Valley, in the wonderful setting of the Friends Meeting House in Dorking. Our project culminates in a series of performances of a play, especially created by writer Tony Earnshaw, which is a promenade performance containing drama, story-telling, music, clowning, installations, personal stories and audience participation.
From its starting point of the creation stories of the world’s faiths, this cross-generational, multi-faith performance challenges us to consider what our responsibilities are for our planet, what we are able to create, and what legacy we ourselves will leave to the world.
In the performance, we visit an animal only pub, try our hand at line dancing, plant seeds, make the acquaintance of a pollution monster, are moved to laughter, and maybe to tears, before the final rousing song and a bite to eat.
Community engagement and participation
During the weeks before performance, there will be preparatory projects in local schools where children create artwork, act short scenes, learn songs, dress up, design and make elements for the show, while listening and talking about caring for our world and each other. In parallel, the broader community is involved in ‘making workshops’: creating puppets, sets, costumes and installations, and developing a bank of personal histories, music and choir performances.
In parallel, local writing groups will be making their own contribution and helping create a written legacy. Damn Cheek always aims to deliver transforming benefit, during the duration of our projects and as a lasting legacy thereafter.
By developing the project with a strong emphasis on community involvement, we encourage people to reach outside their existing context and explore diverse approaches to life. Further, we create a network of interpersonal relationships, inter-organisational connections, social cohesion and teamwork.
Social responsibility and environment
Fundamental to the project is a lasting sense of social responsibility, especially around environmental issues. This theme runs throughout the performance itself and also through the outreach programme. In addition, all materials used within the project will incorporate recycled materials and will avoid ‘one-time-use’ products.
Team
Passion for the Planet is the latest immersive community project produced by Damn Cheek, this time working with Dorking Quakers, Nower Productions and a range of other Mole Valley people and groups
The Damn Cheek team is headed by Artistic Director Darren Cheek and writer and Executive Director Tony Earnshaw along with Designer Chris de Wilde plus actors, musicians, stage management, and audio-description/BSL interpretation staff drawn from the existing team of Damn Cheek associates.