Presented by The Cultch
Created by Sunny Drake
Produced in Association with Why Not Theatre and
9 companies around the World

Feeling overwhelmed by the looming threat of climate change? We’ve got you! Sunny Drake’s Climate Change and Other Small Talk is a theatrical podcast that is here to hold your hand through the scary stuff and entertain you at the same time.

Made by 9 creative teams around the world, these podcast episodes have got it all: from the witty to the wacky, and the serious to the silly.

It’s guaranteed to be fun and ignite your inner climate warrior all while offering global perspectives on the climate crisis.

There will be weird sound effects. An angry panda running a submarine. And a 500-year-old tree that… well we can’t give the rest away.

Launching Earth Day – April 22nd – subscribe to wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode. Learning about how to survive the apocalypse has never been so fun.

Learn more about the project and climate action at sunnydrake.com

Episode 1 | Released April 22, 2023

Sunny Drake
Soulpepper
Why Not Theatre

A couple leave outraged reviews about products delivered by Amazon, while climate chaos swishes into their home… Their responses to their escalating crisis become increasingly absurd, topped only by the absurdity of Amazon’s tactics to thwart them.

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Credits

Making The Mystics is a documentary honoring the transcendent nature of Tsilhqot’in culture explored through Kim Senklip Harvey’s artistic constitution. This feature film weaves through interviews with Interior Salish community members and select scenes from Senklip Harvey’s first story for young audiences to illuminate the mystical powers of connecting with the land and ourselves. In Harvey’s signature style of fusing humor and hope  we are invited into intimate conversations, community places and cosmic spaces to honor the feisty fortitude of the Tsilhqot’in Nation. This documentary ignites a fire for the youthful parts of all of our spirits, encouraging us to have the courage to honor the emotional complexities of living a full life.

Episode 2 | Released April 26, 2023

Ram Ganesh Kamatham
Bangalore, India
Thespian Muse

Somewhere in the Indian Ocean, a nuclear submarine carries out a deterrence patrol. Bizarre new orders arrive and two sonar operators must face existential threats. Will they rise to the challenge, or are they in over their heads?

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Credits

Written by SUNNY DRAKE
Directed by WEYNI MENGESHA

Starring: 
ANAND RAJARAM
LIISA REPO-MARTELL 
and BAHAREH YARAGHI as Amazon
Sound design and music by RICHARD FEREN and OLIVIA SHORTT
Dramaturgy by KATHLEEN FLAHERTY, WEYNI MENGESHA and DONNA-MICHELLE ST. BERNARD

Episode produced by WHY NOT THEATRE and SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS with the generous support of SOULPEPPER THEATRE
Episode Producer: MICHELLE YAGI
Episode Production Manager: CRYSTAL LEE
Audio mixing by HEATHER BROWN
Recording engineer MATT RIDEOUT

Special thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council, The Arctic Circle Residency Program and fellow residents, Climate Change Theatre Action, ACTRA Toronto, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, Volcano Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Chantal Bilodeau, Chanelle Gallant, Alex Kelly and Isaac Lev Szmonko

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Episode 3 | Released May 03, 2023

Pyemwa Deshi
Lagos, Nigeria
QTP

A showdown between an environmental activist and a local community leader overseeing the felling of a 500 year old tree. Who will have the last word?

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Credits

Written by RAM GANESH KAMATHAM
Directed by PUJA SARUP

Starring (in order of appearance):
ALISTAR BENNIS as Petty Officer Joseph “Josh” Joshi
DILNAZ IRANI as Lieutenant Commander Pooja “Angry Panda” Panda
NAKUL BHALLA as Rear Admiral Amar “Ackbar” Anthony

Sound design, music and audio mixing by VARRUNN BANGERA

Episode Produced by QTP ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED (India) with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS
Episode Producer and Production Manager TORAL SHAH
Recording Studio OCTAVIUS (Bombay)

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Episode 4 | Released May 10, 2023

Marie Munkara
Lands of the Larrakia People/
Darwin, Australia
Darwin Community Arts

Nan and Pop are horrified to learn about climate change from their granddaughter. Should they get their hearing aids adjusted or did she just talk about cows’ farting?

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Credits

Written by PYEMWA DESHI
Directed by OMOYE UZAMERE

Starring:
TAIWO AJAI-LYCETT as the olive tree
DEYEMI OKANLAWON as Nanpet
OMOYE UZAMERE as Delphine

With additional voices by CHIOMA B.B.B. OKPALA, OSAYI UZAMERE, AITUARI OGIAMIEN, VICTORIA WYA, TONI THOMAS, CHUBB OKOBAH & PYEMWA DESHI

Sound Design, music and recording engineer CHUBB OKOBAH

Episode Produced by THESPIAN MUSE PRODUCTION COMPANY with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS
Episode Producer OMOYE UZAMERE
Episode Production Manager ADAOHA NJEMANZE
Episode Production Assistant GIFT OKPA FRANCIS

Special thanks to NOVVA MEDIA, NUUGAME ENTERTAINMENT, HOMEGROWN OZONE, OREDO ENTERTAINMENT.

Episode 5 | Released May 17, 2023

Bruce Gibbons Fell
Viña del Mar, Chile
Cocodrilo Triste

A real estate agent manages to sell a coastal mansion, even though waves will eventually lap in to the bedroom – “It’s a soundtrack to sleep by”. What lengths will the realtor go to after she’s fired for selling it way below price? And who was the mysterious buyer?

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Credits

Written and Directed by BRUCE GIBBONS FELL

‍Starring: 

CAMILA LE-BERT as Marina Marino

‍Sound design, music, audio mixing and recording engineer  BENJAMIN MCCARTHY 

‍

Episode Produced by COCODRILO TRISTE with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS

Episode Producer and Production Manager BRUCE GIBBONS FELL 

‍Special thanks to CARLOS BRIONES

‍Access the transcript here.

Episode 6 | Released May 24, 2023

Carmen Aguirre
Vancouver, Canada
Electric Company Theatre

Esperanza Soto welcomes new recruits to a U.S. drone centre. Run entirely on wind energy, the centre is part of the U.S. Army’s Green Military Movement. One of the drone operators is a climate refugee from Vancouver. What choices will she make when climate refugees attempt to cross the border from Mexico?

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Credits

Written and directed by CARMEN AGUIRRE

‍Starring: 

MONTSERRAT VIDELA SAMPER as Esperanza Soto

LILI ROBINSON as The Drone Operator 

CHARLIE DEMERS as The Floor Supervisor and Friend

Sound design and music by JOELYSA PANKANEA 

‍

Episode Produced by ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRE with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS

Episode Producers CARLA RITCHIE and NATALIE LEFEBVRE GNAM 

Episode Production Manager CARLA RITCHIE

Audio mixing by HEATHER BROWN and RICHARD FEREN

Recording engineer MONARCH STUDIOS 

‍

Special thanks to BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver Cultural Services, Canada Council for the Arts, Monarch Studios, and Progress Lab.

Electric Company Theatre acknowledge the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) people. As artists who live, work and create on these lands, Electric Company strives to be allies with, to learn from and to acknowledge the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

‍Find the transcript here.

Episode 7 | Released May 31, 2023

Krishnee Bhotooa
Port Louis, Mauritius
Caudan Arts Centre

A day in the lives of Mayor Toad, big boss Peahen and a hard-working assistant Ant. They launch a clean energy project designed to better lives. But when Tortois asks some difficult questions about who gets the benefits and who feels the impacts, sparks are sure to fly.

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Credits

Written by KRISHNEE BHOTOOA

Directed by ASHISH BEESOONDIAL

‍Starring: 

YAKSHINEE PURHOOA as Tortoise

SONIA MAISSIN as Mrs Peahen

ASHISH BEESOONDIAL as Ant

ESTELLE LASÉMILLANTE as Mayor Toad

‍Sound design, audio mixing and recording engineer KOOSHAL DWARKA 

Additional audio mixing RICHARD FEREN

‍Episode produced by CAUDAN ARTS CENTRE with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS

‍Access the transcript here.

Episode 8 | Released May 31, 2023

Tara Beagan

Mohkínsstsisi/Calgary, Canada
Downstage Theatre

Though Win and his Grams are growing weary of life in a temporary camp, they never tire of each others’ jokes. In a world of floods and fires, they are family, and Win will get his Grams to her lucky spot at bingo through hell and highwater.

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Credits

Written by TARA BEAGAN

Directed by PATRICK BEAGAN

‍Starring:

DUSTIN FRANK as Win

TRACEY NEPINAK as Mums

MICHELLE THRUSH as Michelle 

‍

Sound design and music composition by MADDIE BAUTISTA

‍Episode Produced by DOWNSTAGE THEATRE with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS

Recording engineer and Dialogue Editor BRIAN BERGUM 

Artistic Director for Downstage CLARE PREUSS

Managing Director for Downstage and Episode Producer DANIELLE WHYTE

Associate Producer for Downstage BIANCA MIRANDA

Community Programs Director for Downstage ELSHA YEYESUSWORK

Production Manager and Technical Director for Downstage ADAM KOSTIUK

‍

Special thanks to Lacey Hill for the use of her song “Love Wins,” and to Downstage’s funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development and the Rozsa Foundation.

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Downstage team acknowledges that they live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina, and the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations including the Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley Nations. This is also home to the Métis Nation (Region number 3), and all people who make their homes in Moh’kinsstis and the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

‍Find the transcript here.

Episode 9 | Released June 14, 2023

Shauntay Grant
Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Canada
Zuppa

A father takes his eleven-year-old son on a road trip to protest decades of environmental racism in their rural Black Nova Scotian community. They shift between playful and serious as they discuss ways of bringing about meaningful change, in the wake of the Africville apology.

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Credits

Written by SHAUNTAY GRANT

Directed by MIKE PAYETTE *

Starring:

JACOB SAMPSON as Dad *

NY LANGDON as Nate 

with

LILIONA QUARMYNE as Mom

BEN STONE as the Security Guard *Sound design, music and audio mixing by JACKSON FAIRFAX-PERRY

Dramaturgy by JACOB SAMPSON and MYEKAH PAYNE

Episode Produced by ZUPPA and with support from SUNNY DRAKE PRODUCTIONS

Episode Producer & Production Manager BEN STONE

‍Recording engineers:

– Nate, Dad and The Security Guard were recorded at VILLAGE SOUND, by Sound Engineer BEN CREELMAN

– Radio Announcer and Mom were recorded at JACKSON FAIRFAX-PERRY’s home studio

– LUKE BATIOT

‍

* Jacob Sampson and Ben Stone are members of ACTRA Maritimes and were engaged under Music Code 2011* Mike Payette is a member of The Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and was engaged under the D.O.T. Agreement

Special thanks to Arts Nova Scotia, Halifax Culture and Events, ACTRA Maritimes, and the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.‍

‍In the Dumps was produced in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), the territory of the Mi’kmaq.

‍Find the transcript here.