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• Date of publication Jul 13, 2026 Category: Practice Insight

  Agents of (comedic) change: co-creation through improv to develop environmental science agency

  by Claire A. Murray Dr , Ms Paola Serrano Bravo , Gesche Kindermann Dr , Jessamyn A. Fairfield

  The climate crisis is no longer a crisis of knowledge, but a crisis of agency. Individuals wishing to act must overcome climate anxiety, feelings of powerlessness, and doubt associated with the complexity of the scientific realities of climate change. Rural communities offer much to learn about sustainable living and environmental solutions, but are rarely the site of many science communication initiatives due to inequities in funding, transit, and access to decision-makers. This practice insight explores how the act of performing in `We Built This City on Rock and Coal', an improvised theatre show about climate change in rural and remote communities in Ireland, supported performers to develop agency and transition towards taking pro-environmental actions in their own lives. Accessing environmental science expertise alongside space for emotional responses (both heavy and light-hearted) in specific contexts anchored by local knowledge helped practitioners create a platform for change and climate action.

  Volume 25 • Issue 5 • 2026 • Transitions in Science Communication: Continuity and Change (PCST 2025)

• Date of publication Feb 11, 2026 Category: Article

  Improvised theatre for public engagement with the climate crisis in rural Irish communities

  by Claire A. Murray Dr , Gesche Kindermann Dr , Paola Serrano Bravo , Katy Schutte , Fergus McAuliffe , Amanda Jane Mathieson , Ruth Graham , Jessamyn A. Fairfield

  Engaging the public with the climate crisis has proven challenging due to both the technical complexity of the issue and the strong emotions evoked. “Doom and gloom” approaches run the risk of provoking backlash, despair or overwhelm, none of which support constructive action. Here we used unscripted theatre to make room for both scientific content and affective responses, towards enhancing agency in rural communities at the greatest risk of negative impacts from climate change, who are often excluded from scientific, engagement, and policy discussions. We developed a travelling improvised theatre show called ‘We Built This City on Rock and Coal’ that toured diverse Irish coastal and island communities. Mixed methods evaluation showed that self-efficacy of improvisers, scientists, and audience members on the topic of climate change increased after taking part, demonstrating the viability of improvised theatre as a science communication strategy and methodology for co-created engagement with societal challenges. 

  Volume 25 • Issue 2 • 2026 • Science communication in Unexpected Places (Unexpected places)