The Public Theatre is currently offering the North American Premiere of “Deep History,” written and performed by David Finnigan, which addresses the critical subject of global warming and climate change. The playwright hales from Ngunnawal country in Australia and works with climate and earth scientists, to create theatre and games that may shed some light on the current situation the world is facing. It is a blend of art and science that is unique, combining emotional personal experience, and factual information to entertain and educate. Mr. Finnigan has taken complex theory and history and simplified the explanation to make it more accessible. He follows the footsteps of a fictional female protagonist through the past 75,000 years, traveling through time and navigating the globe, as temperatures rise, and population explodes. Although it may come across as a lecture or TED Talk, it is more than that, since Mr. Finnigan has an amiable knack of sharing information, and assuring us that we are all in this together, breaking down the barrier between teacher and student.

The two main catalysts that inspire Mr. Finnigan’s monologue are the horrendous wildfires that spread through Southeast Australia in 2019, and his hospitalized father, who asked him to write a paper, outlining the six major points that mankind must observe, to ensure a safe and sound future. His father was a world class rock climber who suffered tragic injuries from an accident while climbing, that could be attributed to climate change. This ended his career, so he moved his family from Great Britain to Australia where he became a climate scientist. This weaves together with the constant texts from his best friend, who is trapped amid the wildfires, where he is on vacation with his wife and three children, who are all under ten years old. The script was written in real time during these events, during the last seventy-two hours of New Years Eve 2019.

Mr. Finnigan is a compelling and charismatic teacher, who also happens to be a fine actor. He can deliver factual information, while navigating deep emotional turmoil, without missing a beat. Skillfully, he convinces the audience that he is equally passionate about climate change, the safety of his best friend and the outcome of his father’s hospitalization for a serious spinal infection, simultaneously. One of the most important facts that is made during this seventy-minute performance is that the danger of climate change is not coming, but it is already here. The damage has occurred, and if you are attending this performance to hear about a solution, you will be disappointed. Mr. Finnigan himself only manages to break down his father’s notes into four points, leaving the last two blank on the large brown paper he has been scribbling on throughout the show. Perhaps the situation is overwhelming, the outcome too devastating, or there is a revelation that one voice cannot conquer the problem. However, without a spoiler alert, the audience will leave the theatre satisfied, hopefully a bit more informed, and provoked to engage in conversation.

Director Annette Mees keeps Mr. Finnigan on task and moves the script along at a brisk pace. She balances the weight of emotional drama and factual lecture carefully keeping the performance interesting and the audience interested. The black box stage, limited props, and clear video design by Hayley Egan, enhance the focus of the subject without intrusion. This is a different type of theatre worth investigating and you will be welcomed by a warm and genial host.