Eight people in a Citizens’ Jury, discussing the most important challenge in the history of humanity – how to save ourselves from the looming climate crisis. Exciting new solutions are proposed, each with their own champions and detractors. What they decide will affect us all. But they all have their own issues to deal with, and one of them has a hidden agenda. Who is the assassin and who are they there to kill?
The audience are invited to participate in the decisions made and help with the detective’s dilemma. They can share their opinions via their programme/or an app as preferred.
On Sunday 22nd Sept, we will host a free performance and an associated workshop with a target audience of hairdressers/taxi drivers. If you’d like to participate, please get in touch.
You can find out more about citizens’ assemblies and how to campaign for them here.
This project is part-funded by the funded by the British Academy Shape Involve and Engage Fund. It explores one of the most pressing questions of our time: what do we do when our current systems are driving humanity to extinction?
Drawing upon the tradition of ‘theatre-in -education’, the objective is to use the play to raise awareness of climate solutions and citizen’s assemblies. The audience are encouraged to share their opinions using their programme or a voting app. Audience participation is voluntary. Anonymised results from audience votes may be used as part of a research paper or shared with interested parties.
On Sunday 22nd Sept 2024, we will host a free performance for a target audience (hairdressers, barbers and taxi-drivers) who will be paid a small fee for participating in an associated workshop. Please get in touch if you work in one of the targeted sectors and would like to take part.
There are two versions of the play. 1. Short version: Dramatic Monologue
This is a one-man play of 30 minutes written by Denise Baden, from the University of Southampton. It explores the dilemma of the Director of Public Prosecutions. If he prosecutes, he will alienate his family, and it will mean the end for citizens’ assemblies – a form of direct democracy which many believe could be the silver bullet to avert a climate crisis.
First performance by Jack Klaff, was at University of Southampton 11th Nov 2023 3pm-4pm. Free with Q&A.
The second performance by Jack Klaff (+ Q&A) was Saturday 20th April 2024 at 7.30pm at Southampton Central Library.
Live-streamed from https://www.youtube.com/@greenstoriesuk/streams.
Below is a short 7 minute film with extracts of the play and Q&A which was funded by the British Academy SHAPE Involve and Engage Award.
The one-man play follows the dilemma of the Director of Public Prosecutions when a murder happens in a citizen’s assembly on climate. We use the drama to raise awareness of citizens assemblies. Afterwards we invite the audience to share their views via their programme or via a voting app. The results are here.
As a warm up to get the audience used to the idea of voting and to test out the voting apps, the play begins with a question: would you shoot Hitler if you could get away with it? For those that are interested, here are the results.
If the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutes, this could mean the end for citizens’ assemblies having power. In the story they are in a trial period. If all goes well, a House of Citizens will replace the House of Lords. Many think this form of participative democracy could be the silver bullet to avert a climate crisis. You can see what audiences voted here.
Feedback from the audience
“Fabulous”
“Think it’s a great idea! Our short term government has very little foresight. Great play!”
“Had not heard of citizen assembly before today”
“Loved it!”
“It’s made me more interested in the idea of citizen’s juries”
“I wasn’t aware of citizen’s assemblies – will definitely follow this up. I was torn with the question of prosecute or not, shoot or not – as all actions have repercussions we’re not always prepared for”
“I learned a lot. A unique and fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon”
“Really thought provoking – the idea of constitutional reform as a means of addressing climate crisis is intriguing”
“Q&A was very interesting and performance dramatic and engaging”
“I like the play, brilliantly performed! The conflict between the following the law and doing the best for the people for me personally was very moving”
“Raised awareness perfectly”
“Very interesting and intimate”
Version 2. Full cast (9 mixed M & F) 90-minute whodunnit
Eight people in a Citizens’ Jury, discussing the most important challenge in the history of humanity – how to save ourselves from the looming climate crisis. Exciting new solutions are proposed, each with their own champions and detractors. What they decide will affect us all. But they all have their own issues to deal with, and one of them has a hidden agenda. Who is the assassin and who are they there to kill?
Afterwards the audience are invited to choose (if they wish) their favourite climate solution, and to help the Director of of Public Prosecutions with the moral dilemma of whether to prosecute the killer. If he does, it will shut down Citizens’ Juries which he believes are the magic bullet to help us make decisions that will avert climate change.
First performance of full 90 minute whodunnit version 17th – 21st September 2024 7.30pm. Maskers Studio Theatre, off Emsworth Road, Shirley. SO15 3LX. Tickets £15. Book here.
Review
The play has got wonderful, eclectic characters that the audience can see themselves reflected in just enough to empathise with, but enough “caricature” to be able to criticise, and thus question one’s own actions and motives. The educational ambition of the play blends very well, and the declarative nature of the play medium allows for effective monologues that educate the audience. As a person with no ecological knowledge, it was incredibly interesting to learn about these topics in an engaging manner. Paired with great moments of comedy (the writer has a knack for comedy), the murder mystery element is paced well through the ingenious spotlight switches in between the interrogation and the event, and it will be entertaining for the director to make this work. Overall, the story is great – incredibly engaging, memorable, and well written. It makes a wonderful murder mystery that stays with you.
We plan versions which include a Q&A and versions with a workshop to debate the issues that arise. Thanks to Naomi Elster who adapted the short story ‘The Assassin’ I wrote into stage format.
We are happy to hear from theatre companies who would like to perform the play. Please get in touch if interested.
Information on Citizens’ Assemblies
Citizens’ assemblies help to address the weaknesses of our current system. These are:
- Short electoral cycles means long-term existential issues are unaddressed.
- Many elected politicians are drawn from wealthy, upper classes and lack awareness of issues faced by those they represent.
- Politicians are constrained by powerful vested interests, media conglomerates, party factions and ideological party members.
- Population often vote on basis of misinformation rather than being informed by independent experts in the relevant field.
Information and photo adapted from https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/citizens_assembly Information below taken from Citizens’ Assembly | involve.org.uk
A citizens’ assembly is a group of people who are brought together to discuss an issue or issues and reach a conclusion about what they think should happen. The people who take part are chosen so they reflect the wider population – in terms of demographics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, social class) and sometimes relevant attitudes (e.g. preferences for a small or large state).
Citizens’ assemblies give members of the public the time and opportunity to learn about and discuss a topic, before reaching conclusions. Assembly participants are asked to make trade-offs and arrive at workable recommendations.
This method can be used most effectively when the goal is:
- Examining broad policy objectives/ horizon scanning to create new ideas and propose solutions;
- Assessing policy options to develop recommendations;
- Gaining insight from the public about the efficacy of existing practice.
Citizens’ assemblies have been used in the UK and other countries – including Australia, Canada and the United States – to tackle a range of complex issues. A citizens’ assembly in the Republic of Ireland – established by the Irish parliament – addressed a number of important legal and policy issues facing Irish society. These included equal marriage, abortion and the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population.
Strengths
- The process can be high profile and provide a good way of drawing attention to an issue
- Can bring out diverse perspectives on complex and contested problems
- Decision makers brought face-to-face with citizens or those with lived experience of an issue
- Learning phase and deliberation with peers can help participants to understand, change and develop their opinions;
- Offers policy makers an insight on public opinion on a contested issue based on the public having access to thorough and unbiased information and time for deliberation
Weaknesses
- Gaining a broadly representative group of people can be challenging and expensive
- The process for developing and planning an assembly is intensive and demanding on human and time resource
- Running a citizens’ assembly is a highly complex process requiring significant expertise
- There is a danger of being seen as a publicity exercise if not followed by real outcomes (applies if only have power to recommend)
- They are not effective when used to achieve a pre-conceived outcome; those commissioning them must be genuinely open to the public generating new ideas and solutions
