About the Show

Dawn King's new play exploring the climate crisis through the eyes of the younger generation.

It's the not-too-distant future, and a radical green government is in power. As they try to curtail the climate emergency, the older generation are being tried for crimes against the climate by a jury of 12 to 17 year olds. As the younger generation struggle with their responsibility and with the fates of three adult defendants are in their hands, they need to decide if they should deliver justice or revenge.

'The Trials' was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

Critic Reviews (7)

"There’s activism at the play’s roots, but those roots might need broader pastures to grow."
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"I found ‘The Trials’ gripping, both as an urgent imagining of how our generation will be viewed by our kids, but also a smart imagining of revolution generally."
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"The drama towards a classroom discussion robs the target younger audience, as well as those of us who are older of much adrenal urgency. Great idea, I would say, but another draft would be welcome."
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"'The Trials' is designed to make me and everyone like me – the dinosaurs – acknowledge and recognise our guilt."
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"This is a play that demands self-reflection and soul-searching beyond the auditorium. It leaves us thinking about how we live, what we are doing for the welfare of the globe, and whether these angry desolate children of the near future would find us guilty of climate crimes."
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"'The Trials' vividly imagines a bleak world where child jurors decide the fates of adults whose lifestyles contributed to climate breakdown."
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"This is definitely one of those plays which puts older people in the audience on the spot. ...There a really distinct sense of fury, sometimes expressed, other times supressed, that gives this drama its emotional fuel."
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Cast and creative team