For this issue’s lead story on environmental crisis and theatre, we turned to Lanxing Fu and Jeremy Pickard, the directors of Superhero Clubhouse, a New York City-based collective that pursues climate justice through theatre. “In writing this article, I was reminded of how all-encompassing and yet invisible the climate crisis is in the theatre,” says Fu. “I think the best work that is happening out there in this arena centers hope over despair. I find a lot of hope in the increasing number of artists who are willing to take a step back and examine not only what they are doing, but more importantly, the process by which they are practicing their craft.” She continues, “From this process, I’m personally bolstered by having exchanges with many artists and creative souls, whether or not they were directly mentioned in this article, who are passionately advocating for a climate justice lens on all that we do.”

Adds Pickard, “Working on this feature reminded me how useful theatre can be to the global movement for climate justice. As a national network in constant exchange, we have an abundance of collective knowledge and a long history of leading cultural movements. We are also experts at collaborating and envisioning, which are some of the most practical skills we need to overhaul our existing systems of oppression. I hope the article, and this issue in general, will empower more artists and producers to engage.”