The Climate Theater, with Anoek Neele
“A theatrical ‘slap in the face’ works better than spouting facts about climate.”
The Climate Theater brings humor and hope to the workplace through their interactive corporate performances, initiating a conversation about the enormous climate crisis.
“We are a diverse group – a crazy bunch, if I may say so, haha, which includes a physicist, who is also a magician, a street theater artist, a dramaturgy student, and someone who studied law but actually prefers acting, and of course, myself.”
Anoek Neele, founder of and actor in The Climate Theater, talks about the origins of the theater company, the story that starts with her. As a child, she invited the whole neighborhood to her performances because she already craved an audience. It also turned out to be a form of therapy for everything that was happening in the world and the things she experienced in her daily life. For example, her job as a recruiter became the inspiration for the Generational Theater – a lively and recognizable performance about the gap between five generations in today’s workplace.
But she also cared about other major social issues, such as the climate crisis. Because “how can you possibly lead your life with this threat hanging over us?” You can’t. A few years ago, she abruptly put her job as a team coach on hold.
“I could no longer do it. I spent some time feeling sad and powerless in my garden under a tree until I asked for help on LinkedIn. Who wants to help me figure out what I can contribute? I spoke with about forty people from various organizations. It was a friend who said to me,” Why don’t you start creating theater about this subject again?”
And she did! She gathered the actors from her old, familiar Generational Theater show, asking for a good director, and together they shaped The Climate Theater. After several years of trying and refining, the corporate performance is now solid.
In addition to The Climate Theater, Anoek works as a training manager for the Climate Psychology Foundation and as a leading trainer of The Team Coach training at Coach College De Baak.
The Climate Theater brings humor and hope to the workplace through their interactive corporate performances, initiating a conversation about the enormous climate crisis. “We are a diverse group – a crazy bunch, if I may say so, haha, which includes a physicist, who is also a magician, a street theater artist, a dramaturgy student, and someone who studied law but actually prefers acting, and of course, View more…
“Humor makes things lighter and simultaneously provides a guide for discussing difficult topics.”
“Artists are increasingly being asked to appeal to the power of imagination; that’s what we need now – to dare to feel what’s coming our way and what we have to do together.”
Humor, Recognition, and Dialogue
We now know quite well how to make more climate-friendly choices at work and at home. However, it doesn’t stop there. Changing behavior (should) trigger various reactions regarding autonomy and freedom, identity, and inclusion. There might be a moment in the year that you truly indulge yourself by ordering a meat croquette during lunch or flying to that all-inclusive hotel. This is an example of a personal choice.
Moreover, there are still many unsustainable choices being made daily. This can lead to tension and choice stress, or ‘climate conflict’, both internally and between people. Do you choose to approach that colleague or friend who is flying for the third time this year for a weekend getaway? Or not? Have you already provided another with other options and means to make their environment more energy-neutral or not?
The Climate Theater, with their ‘Warm Welcome Performance’ creates space for all feelings surrounding climate and the discussions that arise from it . Its ability to capture the raw emotions and opinions of a large diversity of people is a result of soliciting feedback, listening very well, and making continuous adjustments, according to Anoek:
“In one of our first performances, someone from the audience pointed out that it was quite ‘a green narrative’. That prompted us to better highlight different perspectives in the characters.”
Each character embodies one of the five behavioral stages of change. For example, phase 2, exploring, or phase five, maintaining. The dialogues between these characters tell the character’s story and highlights the pain points, from “climate denier” to “climate advocate”, to Mother Earth Each has a role. In addition, it touches on multiple themes – such as energy, mobility, food, and greenery.
“I think this form of theater resonates so well because everyone can see themselves or others in the characters. Humor – sometimes absurd – makes it light and simultaneously provides a guide for making difficult topics discussable.”
In the performance ‘A Warm Welcome’, laughter and tears are not uncommon, but the real impact is often only visible later. It creates space to express and share concerns, connecting with people who have the same or different opinions and ideas. This has a lasting impact.
About the Makers of The Climate Theater
The actors and theater makers of The Climate Theater (Woedy Jageneau, Felicia Koops, Dieuwke Helder, Helmer van der Sar, and Anoek Neele) have over 15 years of experience creating performances for conferences and companies. They perform weekly in corporate shows at organizations and institutions throughout the Netherlands. These include both proven, substantive theater shows (such as the Great Generations Show) and custom performances. And of course, the performance ‘A Warm Welcome’ of The Climate Theater itself.
The actors/makers have extensive knowledge and experience in developing shows that closely align with context and themes and can draw from their practical experience within organizations. They take the audience by the hand and challenge them. Their passion lies not only in making theater but especially the interaction and dialogue during and after the performance .
For The Climate Theater, they have utilized knowledge and insights from climate psychology and transition studies.
Want to book The Climate Theater?
Would you like to book The Climate Theater for your event, conference, or internal meeting? Inquire about the possibilities and availability.
Why do you want to invite The Climate Theater at your event?
Corporate Theater is booming! You experience it with all your senses and emotions. The performance ‘A Warm Welcome’ is created for your corporate context. It is thus well-suited for a staff meeting or leadership conference, for a congress, seminar, or as an interactive kickoff for any program where people come together.
Finally, it is also socially applicable for volunteer collectives or foundations, for example, on a community day or other types of gatherings.
1. Universal
Emotions are universal. We cater to different perspectives, personalities, and scenes, ensuring there is something recognizable for everyone. Whether you are engaged in sustainability every day or not at all, this performance feels as if it was made for you.
2. Comprehensive
You can work on sustainability at home, at work, and at the system level. At each level, you encounter different challenges, different themes, feelings, and subjects. Sustainability encompasses everything., energy, circularity, biodiversity, water, soil, waste, mobility, food. We all touch on many of these subjects equally. Ultimately, it’s about what it does to you and what you subsequently do with it.
3. Professional
The Climate Theater, had been created by trained theater makers, (training) actors, and directors, who have been creating corporate theater for over 15 years.
4. Innovative
A performance like this doesn’t exist yet. The way climate discussions are portrayed, the striking way the different characters are represented, and the interaction with the audience are unique and unprecedented. Moreover, knowledge and insights from climate psychology and transition studies have been used in both the design and execution of the performance; a refreshing and unique concept that brings people (in the workplace) closer together.
1. Universal
Emotions are universal. We cater to different perspectives, personalities, and scenes, ensuring there is something recognizable for everyone. Whether you are engaged in sustainability every day or not at all, this performance feels as if it was made for you.
2. Comprehensive
You can work on sustainability at home, at work, and at the system level. At each level, you encounter different challenges, different themes, feelings, and subjects. Sustainability encompasses everything., energy, circularity, biodiversity, water, soil, waste, mobility, food. We all touch on many of these subjects equally. Ultimately, it’s about what it does to you and what you subsequently do with it.
3. Professional
The Climate Theater, had been created by trained theater makers, (training) actors, and directors, who have been creating corporate theater for over 15 years.
4. Innovative
A performance like this doesn’t exist yet. The way climate discussions are portrayed, the striking way the different characters are represented, and the interaction with the audience are unique and unprecedented. Moreover, knowledge and insights from climate psychology and transition studies have been used in both the design and execution of the performance; a refreshing and unique concept that brings people (in the workplace) closer together.
Keynotes
Would you like to book The Climate Theater as a performance for a conference, lecture, or event? Below you will find a selection of different options. Custom program? Inquire about the possibilities.
A Warm Welcome
An interactive performance about climate
The Climate Theater proudly presents the performance ‘A Warm Welcome’ for the corporate world, institutions, municipalities, the non-profit sector, and much more! During the performance, we theatrically address the challenges we face. We show what our loving, desperate attempts dealing with them.
Because everyone can identify with one of the more light-hearted or intense situations at work or in private life, the step towards a subsequent, open conversation becomes much more accessible. In short: it clears the way for discussion and a collective look at actionable perspectives.
Complement the performance with a custom dialogue program, in which we proceed to in-depth interventions. We delve into questions such as: what can you do in your private sphere? What can you do together with your colleagues at work? How can you act more sustainably and future-proof as an organization?
Duration of the performance: 45-50 minutes.
Duration of the custom program: to be discussed.
Forms of work: Theater, performance, interactive, dialogue, workshop.
A Warm Welcome
An interactive performance about climate
The Climate Theater proudly presents the performance ‘A Warm Welcome’ for the corporate world, institutions, municipalities, the non-profit sector, and much more! During the performance, we theatrically address the challenges we face. We show what our loving, desperate attempts dealing with them.Because everyone can identify with one of the more light-hearted or intense situations at work or in private life, the step towards a subsequent, open conversation becomes much more accessible. In short: it clears the way for discussion and a collective look at actionable perspectives.
Complement the performance with a custom dialogue program, in which we proceed to in-depth interventions. We delve into questions such as: what can you do in your private sphere? What can you do together with your colleagues at work? How can you act more sustainably and future-proof as an organization?
Duration of the performance: 45-50 minutes.
Duration of the custom program: to be discussed.
Forms of work: Theater, performance, interactive, dialogue, workshop.
Interview with Anoek Neele
Walk the talk: how does The Climate Theater contribute?
“I hear from various organizations that people continue to talk about the performance for a long time. That’s of course what we want to achieve that and more understanding for each other’s emotions and their origins. On the one hand, there are eco-emotions from – often young – people who are afraid of what the future will bring and thus have a certain urgency in their voice and behavior. On the other hand, there are people who feel cornered, feel patronized, and experience a lack of freedom of choice. By exposing what underlines these emotions, the parties feel less opposition to each other. That’s what we aim to achieve with the performance; to create a natural entry point for conversation.”
Do you have an example of a ludicrous scene from the performance?
“We show, for example, how the ‘three-minute shower policy’ works in a family, what can happen when a vegetarian lunch is suddenly introduced in a company, the debate over a weekend in Bali, the ping-ponging between consumers, government, and businesses, and what ‘climate relationship therapy’ might look like. I could go on like this for a while.”
What has developing the performance brought you personally?
“It was free therapy, I could say. It allowed me to share my inner world with others without being held responsible for it myself. It is, after all, theater! I also find it very nice that I can give a voice to young people who receive the message that ‘they just have to deal with it’, and that there’s no acknowledgment of their feelings of great uncertainty and powerlessness.
It’s also very special that we, as theater makers and actors, discovered that we have different perspectives through in-depth conversations and better understanding each other’s viewpoints. We have experienced that the performance can bring about what it promises.”
For Good: What does that mean to you?
“That we keep our footprint within planetary boundaries while making our handprint as large as possible. Simply put, we give more than we take, we treat each other and the planet justly. That’s something very serious and necessary, but I believe we can achieve it with a lot of fun and inspiration!”
Walk the talk: how does The Climate Theater contribute?
“I hear from various organizations that people continue to talk about the performance for a long time. That’s of course what we want to achieve that and more understanding for each other’s emotions and their origins. On the one hand, there are eco-emotions from – often young – people who are afraid of what the future will bring and thus have a certain urgency in their voice and behavior. On the other hand, there are people who feel cornered, feel patronized, and experience a lack of freedom of choice. By exposing what underlines these emotions, the parties feel less opposition to each other. That’s what we aim to achieve with the performance; to create a natural entry point for conversation.”
Do you have an example of a ludicrous scene from the performance?
“We show, for example, how the ‘three-minute shower policy’ works in a family, what can happen when a vegetarian lunch is suddenly introduced in a company, the debate over a weekend in Bali, the ping-ponging between consumers, government, and businesses, and what ‘climate relationship therapy’ might look like. I could go on like this for a while.”
What has developing the performance brought you personally?
“It was free therapy, I could say. It allowed me to share my inner world with others without being held responsible for it myself. It is, after all, theater! I also find it very nice that I can give a voice to young people who receive the message that ‘they just have to deal with it’, and that there’s no acknowledgment of their feelings of great uncertainty and powerlessness.
It’s also very special that we, as theater makers and actors, discovered that we have different perspectives through in-depth conversations and better understanding each other’s viewpoints. We have experienced that the performance can bring about what it promises.”
For Good: What does that mean to you?
“That we keep our footprint within planetary boundaries while making our handprint as large as possible. Simply put, we give more than we take, we treat each other and the planet justly. That’s something very serious and necessary, but I believe we can achieve it with a lot of fun and inspiration!”
Dieuwke Helder, The Climate Theater
Felicia Koops, The Climate Theater
Woedy Jageneau, The Climate Theater
Helmer van der Sar, The Climate Theater
Anoek Neele | Founder The Climate Theater
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Impression The Climate Theater
A selection of companies that the Climate Theater already had impactful collaborations with….
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Climate Theatre gives an impressive and inspiring performance at the Climate Psychology Foundation, full of insights, humor and hope.
Climate Psychology Foundation -
The Climate Theatre gives an impressive and inspiring performance at the Lingewaard Energie Foundation, full of insights, humor and hope.
Municipality of Geertruidenberg -
The Climate Theatre gives an impressive and inspiring performance at the Lingewaard Energie Foundation, full of insights, humor and hope.
Lingewaard Energy Foundation -
The Climate Theatre will give an impressive and inspiring performance at Woerden Municipality, full of insights, humor and hope.
Municipality of Woerden -
The Climate Theatre puts on an impressive and inspiring performance at Utrecht University, full of insights, humor and hope.
Universitiy of Utrecht -
‘The performance touches and motivates. With humour and emotion. Recognisable for those who have a lot or nothing to do with sustainability.’
City Council Amsterdam -
‘So recognisable! All those different situations… there was something in everything that I experienced myself. So much fun!’
Climate Talks Foundation -
‘Very confrontational, humorous and fun.’
‘The performance encourages dialogue.’
‘The approach leads you to think for yourself: where do I want to contribute (more)?’
Rebel Leadership
