Theater as a means of communicating research on climate change: The case of “Cambiare il clima”

Between 2018 and 2023, the Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) at the Polytechnic University of Turin (PoliTo) implemented a project to advance research and education on climate change monitoring, adaptation and mitigation solutions. As part of their communication efforts, DIATI partnered with Faber Teater to create the play Cambiare il clima (in Italian, this means Change the Climate). This involved a collaboration between DIATI researchers, communication officers, and Faber Teater. The documentary theater that resulted was premiered at Biennale Tecnologia in 2020 and performed at various venues in Northern Italy, targeting both the general public and students. In this backstory, the authors describe and analyze the development of the play, its implementation, and its impact.