Earth Matters on Stage’ was set up to bring focus and further development to an emerging genre of theatre, known as ecodrama — any play, comedy, drama or musical with an ecological theme.

At the very core of the project is the Ecodrama Playwrights’ Festival, an international playwriting competition. The event seeks to broaden the understanding of ecodrama through work that addresses environmental justice and also deepens a sense of place. Playwrights, artists, scholars, film lovers and theatre buffs, activists and interested members of the community are invited to share their work and ideas at the Festival on May 21st-31st 2009, at the University of Oregon, in the city of Eugene, USA.

The Playwrights’ Festival is calling for new stage productions that respond to the current ecological situation or that explore our relationship with the more-than-human world. The winning plays will be chosen by a distinguished panel of theatre or film company artists from Canada and America.

A concurrent Symposium is asking for people to come and share their ideas and views about how theatre and performance might participate in maintaining a more sustainable society.

The entire event will involve ten days of performances, workshops, readings and round-table discussions, dedicated to nurturing the sort of theatrical work that rises out of our connection with the Earth ñ the place we all share and love.

Contact: Earth Matters On Stage
Ecodrama Playwrights’ Festival,
Dept. of Theatre Arts,
University of Oregon, 216 Villard Hall,
Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
Tel: +1 (541) 346 1789
Website: www.uoregon.edu/~ecodrama

Image: © Earth Matters On Stage