Seven acclaimed theatre companies from across Europe present a powerful series of performances that explore our relationship with trees, nature, and the urgent environmental challenges of our time. Through diverse forms of expression—from dance and live music to physical theatre, poetry, and site-specific experiences—each production offers a unique perspective on loss, resilience, and hope.
In “Dancing Trees” by DAH Theatre (Serbia), movement, poetry, and video art come together to highlight the consequences of deforestation on our lives. The performance invites us to listen to the silent suffering of trees and rethink our impact on nature.
Spain’s TNT-Centro Internacional presents “Arboreal Resistance”, a physical and musical journey rooted in flamenco. It evokes the strength and vulnerability of forests while emphasizing their determination to survive amidst destruction.
The German collective Protagon/Antagon brings “Among the Trees”, a poetic blend of physical theatre and live music. Trees are portrayed as ancient presences growing increasingly fragile due to climate change, reminding us of what we risk losing.
With “Oxygen”, ZID Theater (Netherlands) transforms open spaces into immersive stages. Symbolic imagery, soundscapes, and participatory movement create a living metaphor for the urgency of breath, survival, and ecological awareness.
Irish company Smashing Times stages “The Art of Trees”, a multidisciplinary celebration of biodiversity and nature. Drawing from Celtic traditions, it connects trees with identity, healing, and environmental justice.
From Norway, Grenland Friteater presents “Whispering Trees”, a site-specific performance inviting audiences to walk among tall trees and listen to their whispered stories of endurance and interconnection with humans.
Finally, the Greek production “Breathing Earth” by Topos Allou Theatre draws on ancient myths and folk music. Through lyrical soundscapes and storytelling, it transforms trees into symbols of warning and hope, reminding us that even in destruction, the earth continues to breathe.
Shared Themes and Artistic Language
Despite their diversity in style and origin, all performances are united by several core elements:
- Trees as living symbols: Each work presents trees not merely as part of the landscape but as beings of memory, identity, and resilience.
- Multidisciplinary expression: The artists use a rich mix of theatre, dance, poetry, video, and live sound to create emotionally immersive experiences.
- Environmental awareness: The performances act as poetic responses to the climate crisis, urging reflection, empathy, and action.
- Audience involvement: Viewers are not passive spectators but are invited to walk, listen, create, and emotionally engage with the stories unfolding around them.
- Transcultural dialogue: Through collaboration among seven European cultures, these performances embody a shared responsibility toward the planet and a call for collective care.
Together, these works form a moving theatrical mosaic—an artistic uprising against environmental destruction and a celebration of the deep, enduring bond between humans and trees.