The Philip Hunter Fellowship to support new play exploring pivotal moments in climate science history
Emerging playwright Jason O'Leary (Master of Theatre (Writing) VCA 2023) has been awarded the 2023 Philip Hunter Fellowship to develop Spring's Decline, a new play dramatising key events and figures that have impacted our planet's environment.
The play will juxtapose the life of inventor Thomas Midgley Jr., who developed leaded petrol and chlorofluorocarbons, with the pivotal discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
While Midgley's innovations were lauded initially, they had unintended destructive consequences on the atmosphere. In contrast, research by the BAS allowed protective action to be taken through the Montreal Protocol.
"I am thrilled at the prospect of delving into the compelling narrative of environmental science and history through the writing of this play," says Jason.
"The play offers a unique opportunity to engage audiences emotionally and intellectually, weaving together a story of scientific discovery, environmental crisis, and collective action. The excitement lies in presenting this story on stage, bringing to life the complex web of events that led to both environmental degradation and the remarkable efforts to heal our planet."
Jason's interest in environmental themes and science history stems from a profound belief in the power of storytelling.
"Theatre has an extraordinary ability to make abstract concepts tangible, allowing audiences to connect with the human stories behind scientific discoveries," he explains.
"The urgency of environmental issues demands a medium that goes beyond facts and figures, and theatre provides the emotional resonance needed to explore the importance of our relationship with the planet.
“At its core, this play is an exploration of the human impact on the environment, from inadvertent destruction to the collective determination to rectify our mistakes.”
The Fellowship will see Jason conduct extensive research and writing in 2024. He plans to collaborate with science historians, environmental scientists, journalists, dramaturgs and researchers to bring depth and richness to the script.
The play will take an innovative non-linear approach, spanning over a century and a half from the early 1900s to 2070. Rather than a traditional chronological narrative, the characters will converse across different time periods and landscapes.
Jason plans to utilise this structure to accentuate the interconnection of past and present, juxtaposing the actions of Midgley in the early industrial age with the long arc of consequences reaching into the future climate crisis. This nonlinear, time-bending approach aims to highlight the lasting impacts of human progress and provoke deeper reflections.
Jason’s project will culminate in a public reading of the play in Melbourne in November 2024.
The Fellowship, which honours the late artist Dr Phillip Hunter, seeds ambitious, boundary-pushing art like Spring's Decline that integrates science and environmentalism. Jason's creative vision will push the boundaries of eco-theatre, climate fiction, and spark deeper reflections on our planet's future.