An ‘empowering’ and ‘highly emotive’ theatre performance that champions young people’s views on the climate and nature emergencies will tour Hampshire in early 2026.
Following a successful debut at Southampton’s MAST Mayflower Theatre in summer 2025 and national recognition, Theatre for Life’s Bringing the Outside In will embark on a multi-venue tour across Hampshire.
Audience members have praised the youth-led show, describing it as ‘powerful and thoughtful’, ‘fresh and current’, and ‘an important subject to shout about loud and wide’.
Community arts organisation Theatre for Life developed the play to explore local issues like air pollution and topics of climate anxiety in young people, blending influences from Southampton’s urban landscapes and New Forest folklore.
The result is a soul-stirring exploration of hope, fear, and the importance of community in a changing world.
Bringing the Outside In is told from a local perspective that follows Amber – a sixth form student who started missing school because of growing fears around the climate crisis.
Enter Yerna, a three-thousand-year-old giant inspired by New Forest folklore, who could offer Amber a solution. But what can an ancient story teach a girl that she doesn’t already know?
Bringing the Outside In’s month-long Hampshire tour will open on 13 January and visit venues in Southampton, New Milton, Havant, and Winchester.
Theatre for Life has partnered with Solent University and is keen to collaborate with sixth form colleges through an outreach programme to offer 20 free tickets per college for young people aged 16–21 to attend the theatre production and take part in a post-show workshop on 14 January.
During the workshop, participants will explore the play’s themes around climate action by devising theatre techniques, encouraging creative reflection and discussion.
If you represent a local sixth form college and would like to take up this opportunity, please contact: education@theatreforlife.co.uk.
Theatre for Life’s Bringing the Outside In is part of the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme – a partnership project led by the New Forest National Park Authority and supported through a Climate Action Fund grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, which is the largest community funder in the UK.
The YouCAN scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, is aimed at 11 to 25-year-olds to encourage more community-led action to tackle the nature and climate emergencies. It supports green skills and jobs, and an outdoor learning programme for young people from all backgrounds to explore urban, rural, coastal, and freshwater areas.
Find out more about the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme on our website: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/communities/young-people/youth-for-climate-and-nature-youcan/
Theatre for Life Artistic Director, Michelle Smith, said:
‘Bringing the Outside In has been an inspiring journey from start to finish, exploring our local landscapes with young people and witnessing the real-time impact of climate change. Sharing their stories and aspirations through the power of theatre has been a remarkable experience.
‘We are thrilled to continue our community youth engagement by offering free creative workshops that use theatre, storytelling, and young people’s insights to encourage collaboration and support positive climate action and nature recovery in our local communities.’
Bringing the Outside In lead actor and vocalist, Imani Okoh, said:
‘This show holds such a special place in my heart. It’s been created by dedicated people who just want to share their knowledge. I’m very grateful to be a part of this team, and I’m super excited to bring it to as many people as we can. It’s gonna be so much fun!’
New Forest National Park Authority head of environment and rural economy, Paul Walton said:
‘Bringing the Outside In invites audiences to explore their own connection with nature and opens the door to conversations around climate change and climate anxiety between family, friends and the wider community that can only be achieved through theatre.
‘The play is youth-led and deeply embedded in community, which is what the YouCAN scheme is all about. We’re thrilled that it’s going on tour, spreading its powerful and hopeful message, and engaging more young people across Hampshire.’
Tour dates:
- 13 Jan – 14 Jan Solent University, Southampton
- 31 Jan – 1 Feb Forest Arts Centre, New Milton
- 3 Feb – 4 Feb The Spring, Havant
- 9 Feb – 10 Feb The Arc, Winchester
Visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/btoi for further information and tickets.