Peoples Republic of South Devon

Hot Air (review)

March 12th, 2008

posted by Jeremy Thres
- Hot Air, Med Theatre.

Tonight, (March 12) – Roborough Studios, University of Exeter
March 14-15 – Moretonhampstead Parish Hall

It has been a while since I’ve had a chance to see any of Med Theatre’s shows, but I so enjoyed the opening night of Hot Air, I felt moved to put pen to paper to encourage people to get out and see it.

The performances by young and old alike were faultless and it has a very humorous and pertinent script.

Dartmoor is the contemporary setting where many of the challenges, conundrums and contradictions of climate change are played out. A wonderful variety of local inhabitants, male, female, young and old, be they geologists, farmers, ecologists, businessmen, house wives and children, all find themselves embroiled as a proposal for wind turbines lands on their door step.

This show could easily make a very funny TV or radio play, but that wouldn’t beat seeing this talented local cast performing it in the round… it’s even worth getting in your car for (sharing of course)!

• Jeremy Thres is author of Our Relationship with Nature, Sustainability and Regeneration and whose film will feature at Coombeshead College, Newton Abbot, as part of The Last Polar Bear series of events, on March 27.

(picture by Jenny Steer)
For more about the play, and the environmental debate…

“Hot Air is an environmental comedy, set during an outdoor party on the moor. The party quickly overruns polite conversation and a heated debate breaks out about the origins of global warming, its likely impact on the local community and the facts and follies that we all face in dealing with climate change. Written by Mark Beeson, this production picks up on MED Theatre’s tradition of drama that debates rural issues, notably The Swallows (1987) on lack of affordable housing which transferred to Radio 4, and The Bees (1992) which looked at rural employment in conflict with landscape conservation.

“Instead of simply witnessing this debate, Hot Air invites audience members to join in. The play will be followed by an interactive period of discussion with the characters, led by a facilitator. Buy your tickets now by calling the MED Theatre box office on 01647 441356 or buy tickets online at the Med Theatre website.”

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Entry Filed under: Arts, Environment, Society