Image design by LOOP Media
Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Survivor Stories
September 16–21, 2024
A Neworld Theatre production presented by the Climate Disaster Project in association with the University of Victoria’s Department of Theatre
Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories is about ordinary people surviving these extraordinary times.
Adapted from the award-winning journalism of the Climate Disaster Project, an international newsroom at the University of Victoria, this documentary theatre production pulls from hundreds of testimonies of people across Canada who have lived through climate change together.
A fishing guide who took his boat into flooded farmland to rescue an alligator. An actor rushed to the hospital for heat stroke after performing in front of the legislature. A mother figuring out how to prepare her child for the future after fire flattened their town.
Climate disaster is not far away, not happening to someone else. It is here now, happening to us. Eyes of the Beast shows how we still have each other during those disasters, creating community amidst catastrophe.
Every performance is followed by a facilitated talkback, giving audiences a chance to reflect on the stories they’ve heard and share their own experiences of climate disaster. A Vancouver Island political leader will also be present to listen to the performance, as well as the audience, and reflect on how we can help communities impacted by those disasters. Those voices are:
-Former BC Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott (Sept. 16)
-Minister of Tourism Arts, Culture Lana Popham (Sept. 17)
-BC Conservative Nanaimo-Lantzville candidate and former NDP MLA Gwen O’Mahony (Sept. 18)
-BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau (Sept. 20)
-BC Conservative Oak Bay-Gordon Head candidate and former Victoria city councillor Stephen Andrew (Sept. 21, matinee)
-Mayor Saanich Dean Murdock (Sept. 21)
Learn more about Neworld Theatre | Learn more about the Climate Disaster Project
Media sponsor CBC
Show Dates
Performances
Monday to Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Tickets
Charge by phone: 250-721-8000
(online ticket purchases are not available)
- Friday & Saturday Evenings:
All Seats $34 - Wednesday, Thursday Evenings & Saturday Matinees:
All Seats $30 - Cheap Tuesdays:
All Seats $18 - Student Rush Tickets:
30 minutes before each show: $20 - UVic Alumni:
Saturday Matinees: $25 (with UVic Alumni ONECard)
Performed in the Chief Dan George Theatre
Creative Team
Chelsea Haberlin Director/Co-writer
Kelksey Kanatan Wavey Associate Director/Co-writer
Gavan Cheema Co-writer
Sebastien Archibald Co-writer
Candelario Andrade Projection Designer
Christian Ching Set and Props Designer
Jonathan Kim Lighting Designer
Mary Jane Coomber Sound Designer
Donnie Tejani Costume Designer
Jasmin Sandhu (she/her) Stage Manager
Raes Calvert (he/him) Production Manager
Alen Dominguez (he/him) Producer
Performers:
Vuk Prodanovic
Sarah Conway
Jessica Wong
Danica Charlie
Lecture
Every performance is followed by a facilitated talkback, giving audiences a chance to reflect on the stories they’ve heard and share their own experiences of climate disaster.
Advisories
This production contains graphic descriptions of climate disasters, loud noises and flashing lights. Please inquire at the box office if you have questions or concerns.
Photos by Hélène Cyr
The cast of Eyes of the Beast: Jessica Wong, Danica Charlie, Sarah Conway, Vuk Prodanovic
Lytton residents Patsy Gessey and Owen survey the townsite, which was devastated during the 2021 Lytton Creek Fire. Gessey’s testimony, co-created by Climate Disaster Project co-founder Francesca Fionda, is one of more than 30 featured in Eyes of the Beast. (CDP Photo/Jen Osborne)
Merritt resident Rochelle Rupert looks at the damage done to her home during the 2021 Southern British Columbia floods. Rupert’s testimony, co-created by Toronto Metropolitan University student Geena Mortfield, was included in Eyes of the Beast by Neworld Theatre’s playwrights. (CDP Photo/Phil McLachlan)
Professional fishing guide Jordi Williams shows one of the photos he took while rescuing animals trapped on the Sumas Prairie during the 2021 Southern British Columbia floods. Williams’s testimony, co-created by University of Victoria writing student Paul Voll, was included in Eyes of the Beast by Neworld Theatre’s playwrights. (CDP Photo/Phil McLachlan)
University of Victoria student Jordan Kovacs conducts a trauma-informed interview during the Royal BC Museum’s Climate Change Curious event. As part of the University of Victoria’s Climate Disaster Project, students such as Kovacs work with disaster survivors across the country to share their stories. (CDP Photo/Phil McLachlan)