New Play explores James Lovelock’s Gaia theory

New Play explores James Lovelock’s Gaia theory

A new play telling the story of James Lovelock’s Gaia theory will be developed in Exeter.

A group of actors and musicians will spend ten days working on the script for ‘Gaia and the Globe’, a play with songs which celebrates the science behind Gaia, and explores the social and cultural implications of the theory.

Writer Peter Horton is inspired by the hypothesis which was developed in the 1970s. James Lovelock and US microbiologist Lynn Margulis put forward the idea that the earth and all its organisms are closely integrated to form a self-regulating system, maintaining the conditions for life on the planet.; a feedback system which has regulated the earth’s temperature and atmosphere for 3.8 billion years.

Gaia scientist and inventor James Lovelock was based in the south west for the last 40 years and died in July this year, aged 103.

Performing arts charity, Shapeshifter Productions and Gaia’s Company have come together to work on the project and have received funding from Arts Council England for the initial research and development phase, in partnership with the Global Systems Institute (GSI).

The creative team for ‘Gaia and the Globe’ will be based at Exeter University, improvising and developing the script and musical score. Peter has written a series of scenes which he will work on with the performers, who all have an interest in environmental issues.

As well as developing the script and music, the actors will run workshops in schools in Exeter and North Devon and will also bring together a choir.

Peter said:
“Our responses to the pandemic along with the increasing threat of climate change have shown that, as a species, we are out of our depth when confronted by the natural problems we have brought upon ourselves. The science of Gaia is fundamental to our understanding of how the natural world really works. 'Gaia and the Globe’ explores all these things.

“This phase of research and development is very exciting; I want the performers to own the piece – not just to act in it, but to be involved in the creative process and to contribute to its development. We’ll start with a series of scenes and sequences which the performers will improvise around, so that the play starts to have a life of its own.”

As well as exploring and contributing to the script, the performers will work on arrangements of the songs, experimenting with different styles and instrumental accompaniments.

At the end of the 10-day research and development period, there will be’show and tell’ event on the progress of the piece which will be free and open to all, at 7.30pm on Saturday, 24 September at the Roborough Studio, University of Exeter Prince of Wales Rd, Exeter EX4 4SB. Tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gaia-the-globe-show-and-tell-tickets-414534031447

This research phase is part of a three-year project which will lead to a full-length theatre production with performances, workshops and community events across the UK.