The Butterfly Factory is a multi-form production company. We tell stories from the heart of the climate crisis and mass extinction. But don't worry.
We don't want you to feel terrible about yourself. Extinction and natural annihilation was never your fault. Across physical and digital art-forms (mainly theatre, Netflix still won't give us any money) we create stories about the natural world - and your place in it. There has never been a stranger time to be a part of nature, and at the Butterfly Factory, we explore what we have already lost - and what we may still be able to save.
We work with scientists before making our work. Our stories are written by scientists and storytellers. Dramaturged by theatre practitioners. And like an impulsive takeaway ordered at 3am, we deliver these stories to you with no judgement. You are the first audience in human history to be placed at the heart of an extinction event. That's quite a lot to take in. Especially if it's Monday.
You're doing great.
How We Work
We co-produce work which explores our changing place in a drastically changing natural world. We are not a theatre company; we work alongside creatives, production companies, and venues, to bring a piece of climate work from concept to delivery.
Our support strategy changes from project to project, but our mission is the same: to support new climate writing.
To date, we've:
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Written scripts & been part of the creative team
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Provided 'scientific dramaturgy' on projects that want to balance scientific accuracy with artistic licence. We consult scientists before going into the rehearsal room or editing suite
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Provided fundraising support
The Butterfly Factory's creative concept was founded by writer Skot Wilson when Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) commissioned Kingdom, (Or the Anthropocene) in March 2019 for performance at Bristol Old Vic's Weston studio. Kingdom was a series of climate crisis plays and saw the BOVTS ensemble wrestle with scientific concepts whilst balancing the need to tell them theatrically.
In March 2020, Skot worked with Unbound Productions, who produced Kraken for VAULT Festival 2020. Unbound are experienced producers and content makers and needed no help making Kraken look gorgeous and feel daring. Instead, the Butterfly Factory focused on fundraising efforts. Funds raised supported the costs of Kraken's striking use of projection and A/V.
send us a message before the world ends
