Climate-focused play inspires audio project at Bristol Old Vic

What does a beautiful future look like? That’s the question at the heart of The Beautiful Future is Coming, a new play by acclaimed writer Flora Wilson Brown, set to premiere at Bristol Old Vic in May 2025. A hopeful and humorous take on the climate crisis, the play weaves together the lives of three women from different historical periods, each facing their own moment of environmental change.

As part of the production, Bristol Old Vic will also host an interactive audio installation—The Beautiful Future: Voices of Tomorrow, a community project inviting young people across Bristol to record audio messages imagining the future they want to see. These messages will be open for the public to listen to at the theatre throughout the play’s run, or access remotely via the Bristol Old Vic website. The installation will be focused around a 5-metre-tall living tree which will call in the foyer of Bristol Old Vic its home for the duration of the run as a visual reminder of hope in the future.

Image: Bristol Old Vic 

Unlike the typical dystopian narratives surrounding climate change, The Beautiful Future is Coming dares to ask: what if the future is still ours to shape? Through warmth, wit, and historical storytelling, the play connects past and present to spark a conversation about resilience, hope, and the power of imagination in the face of crisis.

Alongside the production, The Beautiful Future: Voices of Tomorrow will showcase the hopes, dreams, and concerns of young people in Bristol, reflecting their visions for a greener, fairer world.

Image: Bristol Old Vic 

How it works: 

• Young people (aged 8–25) are invited to submit a 30-120 second audio recording answering: “What does a beautiful future look like to you?” Maybe you want to read a letter to a child living in 2100? Maybe you’d like to write a poem or song about what you hope the world looks like in 50, 100 or maybe 1000 years’ time? It’s up to you!
   
• Submissions are open throughout April until 5 May through voice memos* sent via email to the theatre at press@bristololdvic.org.uk. Don't forget to include your name and age (first names will do).
   
• Messages will be curated into an immersive soundscape, available for audiences to listen to at Bristol Old Vic.
   
• A QR code & online playlist will allow people to engage with the project remotely.
  
  *The theatre can also accept alternative forms of entry for those with access requirements – please get in touch with press@bristololdvic.org.uk if you need any assistance.

Full details are available here: Be part of the Beautiful Future | Call out for young | Bristol Old Vic

Flora Wilson Brown, playwright, said: "So often, conversations around climate change are dominated by fear and paralysis. But storytelling has the power to shift perspectives. This play—and the youth voices project—are about reclaiming optimism, giving people permission to imagine a better world."

Director Nancy Medina said: "Bristol is a city of change-makers, and our young people are already leading the way on climate action. This project is a way to celebrate their voices and bring them into the conversation in a creative, impactful way."