The Dirt

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The Dirt is a solo performance that explores how the climate emergency has changed the way we imagine tomorrow.
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In exactly the moment that it was predicted, the climate emergency has arrived. Everything has changed.
The last woman on earth is beside herself. She used to live in a nice house in a nice area and never thought climate change would actually, you know, affect someone like her.
But here we are. The Dirt has arrived at her door and is seeping into her house. Terrified, she calls her cleaner, a punk who has since been evicted, to come round and help, but despite all their efforts, the house just gets dirtier and dirtier.
Tomorrow, she had planned to have children and play with them. She wonders if this will be possible.
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Via this 50 minute solo performance, Marianne Tuckman explores how the climate crisis has invaded our most intimate spaces: our homes, our bodies and the way we imagine the future. She asks a burning question facing our generation: is having children still an option?

Creative Team

Artistic Director: Marianne Tuckman
Creative Producer: João Maio
Sound Design: Marcelo Schmittner
Lighting Design: Nicolas SanMartin
Costume Design: Barte Liagaite
Artistic Mentoring: Cristina MacKerron and Rod Dixon
Director of Photography: Ndrika Anyika
Sound Recordist: Robert Wingfield
First Assistant Camera: Kojo Doku
Supported using public funding through Arts Council England

Feedback

“A Funny, clever, realistic, contemporary and political piece of work.” audience member
“Hilarious!” audience member
“Loved the text, the set and aesthetic.” audience member
“Marianne’s performance was exceptional. Clever multi-media use.” audience member

"Dazzlingly imaginative as well as deeply unsettling, The Dirt see-saws between absurdist comedy, political engagement, and a poignant exploration of the possibility of motherhood in a wholly unpredictable and absorbing manner, a bracing mixture of dance, theatrical monologue and play of ideas. Philosophically rich, politically astute, and moving confidently between absurd comedy and unsettling nightmarish disquiet, this is a hugely impressive and memorable piece of work. ""
Alan Bilton, Novelist and lecturer in film, literature and creative writing at Swansea University

"The Dirt is sharp, witty and poignant. Marianne offers a unique take on the big, heavy issues of climate breakdown from a darkly surreal personal perspective" Kate Cox, Gracefool Collective

"The Dirt is just the tonic we need right now. The piece is performed with humour and great skill."
Paul Davies, Volcano Theatre

“The themes resonate so so much. The dilemma about whether to have children or not because of the end of the holocene is really heartbreaking and anger inducing. It's so important for artists to be articulating this. “
Madeline Shan, theatre maker, performer, writer, choreographer

Press

'A powerful performance from Marianne Tuckman that make the personal impact of the climate emergency vividly apparent.'🌟🌟🌟🌟 Everything Theatre

'An endlessly watchable performer, Tuckman holds the room with an uncanny power.' 🌟🌟🌟🌟A Youngish Perspective

'Marianne embodies the characters uncannily and cleverly, dousing her solo with relatable humour and currency. The Dirt asks many questions related to climate change. Rather than being irritatingly moralistic, it paints a picture of what might happen tomorrow if change isn’t set in motion today.' Dance Art Journal

'Slick choreography and Beckett-esque absurdity captures the fear of mothering in the face of a crumbling future.' Fringebiscuit