According to a 2018 study by Yale, nearly 70 percent of people in the United States are worried about climate change. This worry is particularly prevalent in younger people, who tend to stress about their, and thus the planet’s, future.
React is a theater group of Indianapolis youth founded in 1976. In 2009, they changed their focus to plays about social change. Their method of writing plays is unique as well; they inform participating students about what issues they wish to cover and then work together to write about them.
“Dreamland” is the most recent play to tackle the issue of climate change. React partnered with Earth Charter Indiana to work on this play. The target audience for this play is teenagers and preteens who will have to deal with the consequences of this crisis.
The play follows the story of Logan, a high school student worried about the climate crisis. Despite her efforts, no one seems to listen or care. Her friends, who each represent an archetype of a person, react in different ways to her growing anxiety, but none of them do anything.
One night, while having nightmares about what is to come, she meets a person in her dream who guides her through her life. This person then shows her how her small actions have affected the world in ways that she hasn’t seen. The central message is that just one person can have some effect and it does not need to be big or flashy, it just needs to happen. This helps Logan overcome her anxiety.
The next performance of “Dreamland” is at the Athenaeum in Indianapolis on April 5th at 7 p.m. Tickets are free, but donations are accepted.
Overall, I loved the show, its message, and its themes. If one has some free time, I would recommend giving it a watch.
Visit React’s website, for more information about the show.
