Raising the curtain on climate action: Design and impact-assessment of a theatre-based intervention on climate action efficacy among young adults in India

Abstract Climate change is an intricate phenomenon that arches over the environmental, economic, and social horizon of the world. Several approaches, including lecture-based teaching, have been adopted to convey the threat of climate change to different groups. However, there has been limited translation of learning into constructive action. This underscores the necessity for innovation in climate change communication. Consequently, this project based in India developed and tested the impact of a participatory theatre-based intervention on young adults’ attitudes toward the environment, pro-environmental behaviours, and individual and collective efficacy for climate action. A four-week immersive theatre workshop spread over eight bi-weekly sessions was delivered to college students, culminating in the staging of a play. Data was gathered from 72 undergraduates at pre-test, and 20 at post-test. Data was collected using a mixed-methods design (self-report scales and focus group discussion). Findings revealed statistically significant improvements in environmental attitudes, pro-environmental behaviours, and individual and collective efficacy towards climate action. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) of the focus group revealed the importance of novel climate change communication, the role of the workshop in bolstering participants’ sense of responsibility and efficacy regarding climate action, the impact of the workshop on participants’ personal growth, and areas for improvement in future iterations of the workshop. This pilot study highlights the potential of theatre-based interventions towards mobilising climate action and stresses the need to scale this approach in educational settings.