Liverpool's Theatre in the Rough has been awarded funding for Skyglow – an innovative arts project exploring the impact of light pollution on our planet.
Bringing together astronomy, ecology, and the arts, Skyglow hopes to shed light on the vanishing stars and its ecological repercussions.
A child born today will see fewer than half the stars in tonight’s sky by the time they are 18, due to "skyglow" – artificial light pollution, which dims the brilliance of the night sky. Thousands of years of navigation, myth-making, indigenous traditions, and more, are under threat.
Beyond its celestial implications, skyglow also exerts a toll on our ecosystems. By disrupting the natural transition from sunlight to starlight, it interferes with the behaviour, physiology, and intricate balance of many of Earth’s species.
Theatre in the Rough is inviting eco-conscious writers to explore this topic by creating a series of starlit monologues intended for performance at Sudley Walled Garden in Mossley Hill. Ten selected writers will have access to exclusive workshops led by arts, astronomy, and ecology experts from the University of Central Lancashire, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Theatre in the Rough. The selected works will also be published in a new anthology.
Theatre in the Rough director Chris Fittock said: ‘The stars have guided humanity for millennia, but their brilliance is being obscured by the light we have created. We aim to reignite wonder for the night sky while raising awareness of how light pollution disrupts the natural rhythms of life on Earth."
Participants must be aged between 12-25 and live in the Liverpool City Region. No experience is necessary. An application form and more information can be found here. The deadline for applications is June 7.