Visitors to central Glasgow in the first two weeks in November are likely to come across pop-up stages across the city where performers will be using music, comedy, poetry and spoken word to explore issues around climate change.
Pop-up performance stages will be appearing in squares, parks, bus shelters as well as places where delegates and activists are queuing for events, for the duration of the COP26 Climate Summit.
“These pop-up theatre spaces are a welcome addition to a summit which can at times resemble a stuffy trade fair with delegates haggling for hours over the deletion of a comma,” said Dimitri Zenghelis, Cambridge University climate economist and COP veteran.
“They provide playful, accessible and thought-provoking creative spaces for the public and decision-makers to openly communicate and explore joint solutions to the climate crisis.”
The spaces are part of the Glade Theatre, an innovative arts concept launched this summer with the aim of bringing live arts to the heart of communities. The idea involves stringing large “Theatre” banners from a tree or piece of street furniture and turning that area into a performance space.
The team have a number of 10ft x 8ft fabric stages which can also be strung up and spotlights to ensure performances can continue into the evening. A fluid programme – much like a “open mic night” – allows anyone to perform, with a flip chart and pen allowing anyone to put their name down for a slot.
The team in Glasgow have identified more than twenty sites for the pop-up theatres which will be moving around the city for the duration of the climate summit.
Glade Theatres first appeared in parks around London this summer and evolved in response to the COVID-19 lockdown.
“As lockdown lifted, these theatres offered much needed outdoor spaces where people could share socially distanced connection, music and laughter,” said Glade Theatre organiser, journalist Stefan Simanowitz.
“The climate summit provides the perfect backdrop for an initiative like this enabling activists, experts and members of the public to participate or watch impromptu performances in public spaces across the city.”
“The beauty of the concept is that is accessible anyone and it is fully scalable. We encouraging anyone to set up a Glade Theatre of their own wherever they are.”
