Dream on the Farm "Conference for Those Still Living"

A group of international people are summoned by their mutual friend Benjamin, a world-class ornithologist who has organized a retreat to discuss Climate Change. His guests include artists, scientists, and activists—a mixed lot from around the world. When the ornithologist does not show up at his own conference, the event is disrupted, and a mystery ensues as to his whereabouts. As the attendees try to navigate the conference in the absence of their friend, the anxiety for Benjamin’s suspicious disappearance parallels their own anxiety about climate change and disappearing life on earth. The conference becomes something nobody quite expected.

This is play #5 of Farm Arts Collective’s decade-long climate change series called DREAM ON THE FARM. Conference for Those Still Living is an immersive and site-specific play. The audience will also be conference delegates and are invited to immerse in the conference experience. Like all DREAM ON THE FARM shows, the performance concludes with a shared meal to offer space (and nourishment) to continue the conversation inspired by the performance.

We believe that Climate Change is the greatest local and global issue of our time. As rural artists, we are compelled to address this issue as it affects everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We have told many stories in the DREAM ON THE FARM series. In fact, we are at the mid-point of this decalogue. 

We have observed that art has a profound way of addressing climate change. No other medium can deliver the same impact as live story, music, and theatre. We aim to offer our community an artful message that will hopefully inspire action and ideas for bettering our community.