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Dartmoor-based MED Theatre is inviting audiences across Devon to join the debate about climate change by watching its latest community play.

The play, Hot Air, focuses on how the issues of climate change affect communities across the world, and the difficulties we all face trying to understand global warming.

Instead of simply witnessing this debate, Hot Air invites audience members to join in.

Following the performance, several actors from the play will remain in character as members of the audience are invited to discuss the issues raised during the production.

Wind turbines are used to stimulate debate

The play, written by local playwright Mark Beeson, is an environmental comedy set around an outdoor party on Dartmoor.

The party quickly overruns polite conversation and a heated debate breaks out about the origins of global warming, its likely impact on the local community and what we should or shouldn't be doing to tackle it.

The play uses a story which is specific to the Dartmoor area, the possibility of constructing wind turbines in a protected landscape, to examine climate change at both a local and international level.

Although the production tackles some difficult issues, the play looks at climate change from all viewpoints and does not advocate any single position.

Playwright Mark Beeson said: "The play investigates the self contradictions and compromises involved in any viewpoint on climate change, while simultaneously building the feeling that it is very important to have a viewpoint."

Hot Air also provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school students across Devon to use the production to learn about climate change.

MED Theatre's 2006 community play 'Loricum'

During the tour, MED Theatre will use issues and characters from the play to help students explore how climate change could affect their local communities and how their actions can have big consequences.

"Climate change is often an intimidating subject for young people because of the minefield of facts and scientific jargon that is out there," explained education officer Carly May.

"These workshops are an opportunity for students to expand on ideas that they've seen in the play and explore these issues for themselves."

Hot Air picks up on MED Theatre's tradition of producing drama that debates rural issues. Its previous work includes The Swallows, on the lack of affordable housing, and The Bees which looked at rural employment in conflict with landscape conservation.

Tour Dates:

7 March 2008 - Parish Hall, Manaton
8 March 2008 - Octagon Theatre, Okehampton
11 March 2008 - Coombeshead Theatre, Newton Abbot
12 March 2008 - Roborough Studios, University of Exeter
14-15 March 2008 - Parish Hall, Moretonhampstead

All performances at 7.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the MED Theatre box office on 01647 441356 or online at the MED Theatre website.