There Is No Planet B (Theatre Delicatessen, 2021)
Creative Team:
Director & Writer: Hassun El-Zafar, Producer: Sam Holland, Movement Director: Lucy Haighton, Stage Manager: Natasha Gibbs, Dramaturg: Tommo Fowler, Scientist in Residence: Professor John Grant, Actress: Tania Shahdi and Actor: Christopher Glover
Commissioned with the generous support from Arts Council England, HOME Manchester and Eclipse Theatre
THERE IS NO PLANET B (THEATRE DELICATESSEN, 2021)
★★★★★ - DEL AUIDENCE
“Beautifully written. A balance of humour and seriousness. A serious message intertwined across through a precious and emotive story.” - Deli Audience
About:
There Is No Planet B is a compelling play by El-Zafar that blends storytelling, science, and social commentary to explore the personal and communal impact of climate change. Set in a struggling fish and chip shop, the play follows a father and daughter, Farook and Deena, as they recount the past 20 years of food shortages, rising sea levels, and the devastation that has reshaped communities across the UK. Through moments of humour, vulnerability, and resilience, the play offers an intimate portrayal of how ordinary families grapple with the extraordinary challenges of an environmental crisis.At its core, There Is No Planet B is a story about survival—not just in the face of a changing planet, but in the struggles of everyday life. Farook and Deena’s journey reflects the experiences of countless working-class families who bear the brunt of climate change yet lack the resources or platforms to advocate for action. Their story serves as both a mirror and a warning, urging audiences to consider the human cost of environmental neglect and the urgent need for collective responsibility.
Origins:
El-Zafar, a self-taught theatre maker, created There Is No Planet B as a response to the gap between scientific discourse and the lived experiences of those most affected by climate change. Understanding that climate conversations often exclude working-class communities—those who lack the luxury to campaign but are on the frontlines of environmental destruction—El-Zafar embarked on a research-driven creative process. He worked closely with communities facing economic hardship, food insecurity, and environmental degradation, ensuring that their voices, realities, and struggles were authentically represented on stage.
Blending science communication with raw storytelling, There Is No Planet B transforms climate change from an abstract global crisis into a deeply personal and immediate struggle. The play challenges audiences to rethink the narratives surrounding environmental activism, making it clear that those with the least power are often those with the most to lose
