It’s that magical time of year when Edinburgh bursts to life with the Edinburgh Festivals! The streets are buzzing with performances, music, and people from around the globe.
Art, in all its forms, helps us tackle the big topics, and this year’s festival is no different. Artists from every corner of the world are bringing shows that delve into the climate emergency.
Here at ECCAN, we know that sifting through thousands of festival listings can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated a special list of climate-focused shows just for you. From comedy to drama and everything in between, we’ve got something for every climate-conscious art enthusiast. Check out our tailored list of must-see shows happening in August!
And don’t miss our very own ECCAN members, who are also bringing their environmentally-themed shows to the Fringe. Get ready to be inspired and entertained by these powerful performances!
Me For You
Choosing sperm is weird. The one thing we know for sure is these guys are all wankers.’ Holly knows human beings have screwed the planet but she’s still desperate to have a baby of her own. She’s tried doing the right thing, but her bamboo toothbrush didn’t reverse global warming. So she’s joined Extinction Rebellion. If only her girlfriend would join too and help save the human race! But are we worth saving? A play about love. In the face of overwhelming evidence that we’re a despicable race of selfish parasites. Longlisted for the Kenneth Branagh Award.
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Times: 6:10pm
Dates: 1st to 25th August
All shows are accessible. For tickets and more info click here
Stumped
A brand-new miniature opera exploring deforestation through scenes from five ancient stories that centre on what happens when you mess with trees. These stories alternate with conversations between two users of an internet forum on an overnight work binge. Gradually, the two worlds begin to merge. A journey through emotion, humour, anger and ultimately hope, all packed into a tight 40 minutes, STUMPED is ideally suited to both existing opera fans and newbies. Each show ends with a short talk from an expert speaker.
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Times: 6:45pm
Dates: 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13 August
For tickets and more info click here
Listen to the Forest
Have you ever wondered whether plants and trees have a message to share with us? Have you ever thought that we all belong to a breathing system which needs a space to continue breathing clean and fresh air?
Part of the Edinburgh Deaf Festival
Venue: 49 Albany St, Edinburgh EH1 3QY
Times: 7pm
Dates: 15th August
For tickets and more info click here
You might also be interested in the full-day workshop Not Far from the Forest that will take place before the show.
The workshop is a space to voice these questions and listen to the voice of the Forest within us through movement improvisation, choreography and creative writing exercises.
It’s an open level workshop for amateurs, professionals and anyone who has an interest in delving deeper into their relationship with the Forest.
If you book before the 31st of July to take part in the workshop, you will receive a special Forest gift. Prices on a sliding scale.
For more information about Listen to the Forest please visit this website.
You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram
Green Home Festival
Get ready for the Green Home Festival, where the climate emergency, net zero, and soaring energy prices take centre stage! Running from 12-16 August, this festival features 10 unique, free shows dedicated to helping you shrink your carbon footprint.
From explaining what retrofit is -and the best ways to do it- to debunking heat pump myths and sharing grants and expertise for funding greener homes, each show, regardless of its topic or format, shares a common mission: to inform and inspire. Don’t miss out—visit www.greenhomefestival.co.uk for all the details.
As part of this festival, the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum invites ECCAN members to the Community Heating Show 1.00pm – 4.00pm Thurs 15 August at Charlotte Square Gardens. Free Book HERE.
This is an opportunity to discover what heat networks are and explore why they are poised to become the primary method of heating homes and buildings in cities in the future.
Decarbonising heat by using more electricity is a common topic of discussion. Renewable electricity doesn’t contribute to climate change, but electric heating can be costly. With many people already in fuel poverty, it’s essential that any changes minimise the impact on fuel bills and support the climate change ambitions.
This session will host a community engagement and empowerment session on heat networks. Hear from the experts to help spread the message on what heat networks are, the benefits to homeowners and how community representatives can engage with the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum to become champions of this technology.
