Performing Animal Rights

Performing Liberation

The Performing Animal Rights podcast series explores creative practice within the animal rights movement. Researcher Ben Hunt converses with activists who harness artistic practice in their advocacy, delving deep into how creativity manifests in the movement, and how it can play an important role in bringing about a better world.

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Building a Vegan Theatre

Building a Vegan Theatre

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, host Ben Hunt sits down with Alison Harris and Terry Thompson, the founders and directors of The Garlinge Theatre in Canterbury, Kent—the UK’s first all-vegan theatre. Located on a stunning organic farm, this 300-seat venue is a trailblazer for combining performance art with a strong ethical stance.Alison and Terry share the inspiring story behind The Garlinge Theatre’s creation, the challenges of establishing a theatre with vegan principles, and their vision for the future of sustainable and ethical performance spaces. They also discuss how theatre can act as a tool for change, shaping conversations around veganism, sustainability, and compassion.Tune in to learn how The Garlinge Theatre is redefining the intersection of art and activism, and what’s next for this unique community space.🎭 Follow The Garlinge Theatre:Instagram & Facebook: @garlingetheatre🌱 For more podcast episodes, visit: performinganimalrights.org

Episodes

Building a Vegan Theatre

Building a Vegan Theatre

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, host Ben Hunt sits down with Alison Harris and Terry Thompson, the founders and directors of The Garlinge Theatre in Canterbury, Kent—the UK’s first all-vegan theatre. Located on a stunning organic farm, this 300-seat venue is a trailblazer for combining performance art with a strong ethical stance.Alison and Terry share the inspiring story behind The Garlinge Theatre’s creation, the challenges of establishing a theatre with vegan principles, and their vision for the future of sustainable and ethical performance spaces. They also discuss how theatre can act as a tool for change, shaping conversations around veganism, sustainability, and compassion.Tune in to learn how The Garlinge Theatre is redefining the intersection of art and activism, and what’s next for this unique community space.🎭 Follow The Garlinge Theatre:Instagram & Facebook: @garlingetheatre🌱 For more podcast episodes, visit: performinganimalrights.org

Viral Vegan Activism

Viral Vegan Activism

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, Ben speaks with Molly Elwood, creator of the satirical project Elwood Organic Dog Meat, and comedian Jake Yapp, host of the Vegan Life Magazine Podcast. They explore how humour and satire can disarm audiences and provoke thought, with Elwood Organic Dog Meat challenging society’s ethical double standards by presenting a fictional dog meat farm that parallels the treatment of other animals in agriculture. Together, they discuss the challenges of balancing humour with the seriousness of animal rights, as well as the impact of Elwood Dog Meat as a viral tool for activism.Learn more about Molly’s work at elwooddogmeat.com and mollyelwood.com, and follow Jake’s comedy and podcasting at jakeyapp.co.uk. For more episodes and resources, visit performinganimalrights.org.

Staging Animal Rights

Staging Animal Rights

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, Ben Hunt interviews Anastasia Bunce, Artistic Director of Patch Plays, and Grace Joy Howarth, playwright and musician. Together, they explore how theatre can inspire audiences to rethink animal ethics and environmental issues, discussing their creative processes, the impact of their productions, and their vision for the future of activist theatre.Discover more about Anastasia's work at anastasiabunce.com, Grace's projects at gracejoyhowarth.com, and Patch Plays at patchplays.com. For more episodes, visit performinganimalrights.org.

Theatre & Veganism

Theatre & Veganism

Playwright and actor Bibi Lucille, talks to Ben about writing and performing a one-person vegan play, including her creative process and her experience at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Buy the playscript for Meat Cute from www.aurorametro.com/product/meat-cute/

Performance in Animal Rights Roundtable

Performance in Animal Rights Roundtable

In October 2022, creative activists came together to share their experiences of performance in the animal rights movement, for a live online event. Hosted by Leigh Venus; drag artist Dan Hellman, Songwriters Barbara Helen and Vegan Queen V, campaigner Harley McEckersal, and performance artist Ben Hunt, explored what creative practice can bring to the movement. This event was hosted by Bright Eyes Theatre Arts, a theatre company focused on the non-human animal narrative.

The Body & Activism

The Body & Activism

Ben talks to animal rights activist Abi Foster (aka Animal Autonomy) about her latest fundraiser action, where she tagged her ear in solidarity with non-human animals raised for food. The fundraiser raised over £5000 for a sanctuary, as well as raising awareness of the suffering and dominion of the animal agriculture industry. Find out more about Abi here: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAutonomy/ More podcast episodes like these here: https://www.performinganimalrights.org/podcast

Veganism on Stage

Veganism on Stage

Ben talks to playwright, author and activist, John Yunker about his work in bringing veganism to the stage, and why theatre can be a powerful medium in telling compelling stories around animal rights issues.

Performance in Strategy

Performance in Strategy

Youth Outreach and Campaigns Officer for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA UK), Simon Plazolles-Hayes, talks to Ben about utilising performing arts in campaigns, as an essential tool in the organisation's strategy.Find PETA UK's website here: https://www.peta.org.uk/

Satire in Animal Rights

Satire in Animal Rights

Ben talks to activist and YouTuber David Ramms about his viral satirical sketches. This episode explores audience attention and authenticity in creating engaging content for the animal rights movement.David's YouTube channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidRamms

Performance in Direct Action

Performance in Direct Action

Dr Yvette Watt talks to Ben about her artistic practice and animal advocacy - specifically her performance project Duck Lake, which involved a group of dancers in hot pink tutus and hard hats performing on a floating stage at the opening of the duck-shooting season in Tasmania. Footage of Duck Lake can be found here: https://vimeo.com/158270314

Performing Trauma in Animal Rights

Performing Trauma in Animal Rights

This bonus episode is from a radio interview for Slacks Weird Radio, as part of the New Bridge Project. Leigh Venus talks to fellow activist Ben Hunt about his recent online performance project and his research into performing arts and trauma in the animal rights movement. Ben shares audio from his work including soundscapes and poetry. Find Ben's work here: https://performinganimalrights.tumblr.com/ Find our other podcasts here: https://www.performinganimalrights.org/podcast

Drag & Animal Rights

Drag & Animal Rights

Singer, performer, dance and theater maker Daniel Hellmann talks about his experience as a performance artist and animal rights activist, especially about his alter ego "Soya the Cow" - a sex-positive, feminist, vegan drag cow.

Singing Animal Rights

Singing Animal Rights

Ben talks to singer and songwriter Barbara Helen about what music means to her, in her activism, and to the animal rights movement. At the end of a fascinating conversation Barbara performs one of her latest songs live.

Embodying & Narrating Animal Rights

Embodying & Narrating Animal Rights

Writer, artist and activist Dr. Alex Lockwood talks to Ben about the impact of bearing witness to the non-human animal, the role of the activist, and the importance of narrative as a strategy in the animal rights movement.

Performing Civil Disobedience

Performing Civil Disobedience

Ben talks to performer and activist Harley McDonald-Eckersall about her experience and roles in animal and climate justice group Animal Rebellion, as well as her thoughts on performance and creativity in the movement.

An Introduction - Why Performing Arts?

An Introduction - Why Performing Arts?

Performance artist, researcher, and creator of the Performing Animal Rights Archive, Ben Hunt introduces the podcast series, by exploring why he thinks performing arts is vital to the animal rights movement.