Introducing Outhaus: the latest work in progress by Tenderfoot Theatre
In the not-too-distant future of our concrete state, a prohibition on green space is in full swing. With every park, field, and grass verge bought up by the bourgeoisie, one dilapidated public toilet houses nature’s speakeasy.
Welcome to Club OutHaus – an illegal underground haven for joggers, dog walkers and ducks alike to relish in nature in the shadows while the club’s cabaret stars work together to keep the place open for those who need it and out of the hands of the Green Police.
In the latest work by Tenderfoot Theatre, OutHaus explores the rapid decline of green space access in the North West in a tongue-in-cheek, high-energy cabaret that brings together the magic of nature with the power of people.
With green space in the UK rapidly declining and increasingly draconian protest laws making climate activism almost impossible, it can feel like loving nature is a crime - but what if it actually was? OutHaus was inspired by the overwhelming research about the lack of accessible green space in the UK, especially the North West - the bits we love, the bits we stand to lose and the people and powers standing in our way of protecting it.
In 2020, Friends of the Earth released a report on England’s ‘Green Space Gap’ detailing the extent of green space deprivation in the UK – with many neighbourhoods in the North West ranking ‘E’ – a category reserved for areas that are most deprived of green space access. This project aims to reconnect communities in these category E areas with the magic of green space through a show that is fun, hilarious, high-energy and galvanising, equipping audiences with the tools to fight for access.
So, we're going to get our hands dirty. Really dirty- it is a Tenderfoot project after all.
Then, we’re opening the OutHaus for business - bringing the plant party to the people. If you just can’t wait until the show (we know, you’re on the edge of your seat) and you're in the market for a cheeky bit of green space education, we've popped some links below:
- Friends of The Earth Green Space Gap Report
https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/englands-green-space-gap
- BBC Article on Lacking Local Green Space
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48398033
- The Conversation Article on Policing Climate Activism.
