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Birmingham Rep in Centenary Square, Birmingham
Image shows Fehinti Balogun in Can I Live?. He is stood onstage with musicians and dancers wearing hats stood behind him.

Can I Live? From Theatre Complicité

FILM: Conceived, written and performed by Fehinti Balogun

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Created with world-renowned theatre company Complicité, Can I Live? is the story of how, as a part of the Global Majority, actor Fehinti Balogun‘s path has been forever changed by what he’s learnt about our planet. This energising and uplifting film is an exploration of the place where the climate emergency and social justice meet, and a call-to-action to anyone who is curious about what we can do to help.

Why don’t we talk about it?”

Fehinti Balogun asks this urgent question and offers an invitation in Can I Live? – a vital digital performance about the climate catastrophe, sharing his personal journey into the biggest challenge of our times. Weaving his story with spoken word, rap, theatre, animation and the scientific facts, Fehinti charts a course through the fundamental issues underpinning the emergency, identifying the intimate relationship between the environmental crisis & the global struggle for social justice, and sharing how, as a young Black British man, he has found his place in the climate movement.

In the face of a sense of helplessness about the climate catastrophe, Can I Live? is an outstretched hand, inviting audiences to recognise they are not alone – and that through understanding the issues and connecting with the many powerful activists around the globe driving change, we can find a sense of hope for the future.

Please note, the screening of Can I Live? will be preceded by a screening of the short film The Migration Blanket – Climate Solidarity, which has a running time of 20 minutes.

 

Part of Climate Action Week with The Rep – don’t miss these exciting events!

CAN I LIVE?

LETTERS TO THE EARTH

OUR FUTURE NEEDS YOU

 

Please note, booking fees are not applicable to this event. Use code WAIVEFEE at checkout to remove the £2.50 booking fee.

Price

£10

Please note, booking fees are not applicable to this event. Use code WAIVEFEE at checkout to remove the £2.50 booking fee.

Duration of Films

1 hour 20 minutes

Directed by

Daniel Bailey

Produced by

A Complicité production in association with the Barbican, London, supported by Oxford Playhouse

Supported by Arts Council England and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Age Guideline

Suitable for ages 12+

Post Screening Discussion

A discussion will take place after each screening. Further information to be announced.

Special offers

3 for 2: Add 3 shows into your basket and at checkout enjoy 33% off each production for selected shows in our 2023 Season T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Teens Go Free: Receive one complimentary young persons ticket (13-19 years) when you book one standard ticket for selected productions. Discount will be applied automatically at checkout when you add both tickets to your basket. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Content Advice

Please note this performance contains some flashing images, some strong language, explores themes of racism, classism and describes some violence.

Access

Captions and Audio Description (by VocalEyes) available,

Please note, Captions and Audio Description are available for the film screenings but not the post screening discussion.

Post Film Discussions

WED 7 JUN: Whose Future? Our Future! Muhibb Nazir and Oscar Barrett of the Young Rep in conversation with Cllr Saima Suleman and Cllr Roger Harmer. Chaired by Young Rep graduate and Rep Board Member Atif Ali.

THU 8 JUN: Decarbonising the City of Industry: what are the opportunities for Birmingham’s workforce as we head towards Net Zero? What are our obligations to each other and to future generations at this critical time, and how do we make change happen here? Chaired by Rep Executive Director Rachael Thomas. With Anna Bright (Chief Executive, Sustainability West Midlands), Simon Slater (Chief Executive of Eco Birmingham) and Nigel Lloyd (Acocks Greener, CIC).

FRI 9 JUN: The Activist Ecology: from grassroots to non-violent direct action, and why we need to do everything, everywhere, all at once. Chaired by Rep Trustee Victoria Marsom. With Rajan Naidu (Extinction Rebellion), Aasiya Bora (Muslims Declare) and Ed Porteous (Divest WM).

SAT 10 JUN: Global Majority, but out of the picture: Fehinti Balogan and Salma Zulfiqar address the barriers to environmental engagement for people of colour. Chaired by Nyasha Gudo.

Gallery

1 /
Image shows Fehinti Balogun in Can I Live?. He is stood onstage facing the audience. Musicians are visible in the background.
Image shows Fehinti Balogun in Can I Live?. He is stood onstage with his arms reaching forward.
Image shows Fehinti Balogun in Can I Live?. He is stood onstage with one of his arms reaching forward.
Image shows Fehinti Balogun in Can I Live?. He is stood onstage with his palms together.

Watch the trailer here...

Cast List

Featuring

Fehinti Balogun

Supported by

Bunmi Adedeji
Khalil Madovi
Kwami Odoom
Ellen Thomas

Activists

Terell Farrell
Dickson Mbi
Chloe Rianna
Samia Alexandra
Nick Anim
Helen Brewer
Joshua Virasami
Sara Callaway

Creative Team

Co-Director

Simon McBurney

Writer

Fehinti Balogun

Dramaturg

Kirsty Housley

Producer

Tim Bell

Director of Photography

Stewart Kyasimire, Create Anything

Editor

Ash J Woodward

Scenography and Costume Design

Rajha Shakiry

Music Director and Composer

Khalil Madovi

Sound Design

Mike Winship

Lighting Design

Azusa Ono

Movement Director

Dickson Mbi

Projection, Animation and Visual Effects Design

Ash J Woodward

Lyrics

Fehinti Balogun

Music

Fehinti Balogun
Khalil Madovi
Chloe Rianna
Josh Sneesby

Recorded by

Fehinti Balogun
Khalil Madovi
Chloe Rianna
Josh Sneesby
Terell Farrell

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