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Surviving in the World: Climate activism takes center stage at Broadway show

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Good morning. Welcome back to Surviving in the World (SIW), your biweekly newsletter written by CI students for anyone interested in global affairs. We always try to present select topics in global news in an easy-to-understand format.

 

Welcome to our exclusive series highlighting theatrical events that we hope offer readers an immersive journey into the world of performing arts. In this edition, we delve into a the incident where climate change protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC disrupted a Broadway performance of "An Enemy of the People."

 

Brought to you by: Keonhee Ahn (’25)

Word Count: 319 / Time: 3 minute read.

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Extinction Rebellion NYC addresses the urgent climate and ecological crises through nonviolent direct action. Here's a brief introduction to their origins, demands, and activities:

  • Formation: Extinction Rebellion NYC was inspired by Extinction Rebellion UK, starting its journey in December 2018 following the UK movement's launch on October 31, 2018.

    • The movement rapidly spread globally, inspiring actions from the Solomon Islands to the United States​​.

  • The group has articulated four central demands for the government:

    • Declare a climate and ecological emergency

    • Halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025

    • Be led by the decisions of a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice

    • Prioritize a just transition for the most vulnerable people​​

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Extinction Rebellion halts plan to close Heathrow Airport with drones (source: Sky News)

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​Extinction Rebellion NYC in Broadway

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The Incident: During a sold-out performance, three protesters voiced their climate change concerns, disrupting the show with the chant, “no theater on a dead planet.”

  • The protest occurred in the midst of a pivotal town hall scene, blurring the lines between performance and reality for some audience members.

Response from Cast and Audience: Jeremy Strong, maintaining his role, suggested allowing the protesters to speak. This, along with the seamless timing of the protest, led some, including The New York Times’ chief theater critic, to initially believe the interruption was scripted.

 

Previous Actions: Their protests are not limited to theater; past disruptions include a performance at the Met Opera and a match at the U.S. Open semifinals.

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Activists disrupted An Enemy of the People on Broadway (source: Time Out)

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Impact and Outcomes:  Some attendees left the theater unsure if the protest was part of the show, underscoring the thin line between art and reality in conveying pressing societal issues.

 

Questions raised:

  • The impact of interrupting cultural events on public awareness and engagement with climate change issues.

  • The incident Highlights potential risks in how such protests might influence public opinion on climate activism, possibly alienating sympathetic audiences.

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