Tenderfoot Theatre company at the Lancashire Community Climate Action Forum, 17 May 2023. Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2022

Tenderfoot Theatre

Tenderfoot Theatre CIC is an ecotheatre company based in Lancashire. As a collaborative team of researchers, designers, and theatre-makers, our mission is to create bold theatrical works about climate change – with sustainable practice embedded into all we do.

Tenderfoot Theatre outdoor workshop. Pic copyright Tenderfoot Theatre company

The Tenderfoot project started in 2019, at Edge Hill University where we were studying Drama. Excited to begin our careers in theatre, we looked ahead to the industry we were to graduate into, as a record summer of climate protests began. Two things became clear. Firstly, there is much work to be done to future-proof our industry for generations to come. Secondly, there is a world of incredible researchers and makers already acting to make this a reality, a community we are now a growing part of, and one we encourage everyone to join. And so the project began.

Combining our passion for sustainability with our love of theatre, Tenderfoot began a research and development project which aimed to use theatre to raise awareness of climate change-related issues, while developing new and improved ways to deliver live performance in a more planet-friendly way.

Tenderfoot Theatre. Pic copyright Tenderfoot Theatre company

We are currently in residency at The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University. Here we provide shadow placements, guest talks and lectures. We are also part of the SustainNET community, which we developed our short piece ‘While You Wait’ in collaboration with, to be performed at the first Lancashire Community Climate Action Forum on 17 May 2023 – the birthplace of LancsCAN!

Our current focus is celebrating and re-engaging with green spaces and nature. As part of this series, we have developed plant-based wellness exhibitions, nostalgic spoken word and our mud kitchen for little ones to get messy.

Want to get involved? We are currently looking for home video submissions of people and animals in nature – any age, any style. Email [email protected] for more information on how to submit.