The Conference of the Trees (R&D devising process)

Written by Majin Adin, Yara Rodrigues Fowler & Connie Treves

Co-created with the writing of Sarah Orola, Lester Gomez Medina, Diyo Mulopo Bopengo, Ian Andrew, Yordanos Gebrehiwot and Attar of Nishapur

Produced by Good Chance and devised through the Change the Word project in 2021 & 2023

“This isn't a traditional play, it's collaboratively written, and features talking trees and poetry. It's about ecology and friendship, poetry and imagination, utopia and a world without borders. By imagining these things we hope we can build them” (Yara Rodrigues Fowler)

An oak tree waits outside a pub on Finchley Road. Elizabeth Bishop strides through the dreams of a man in Coventry. A man in the airport flaps his wings like a bird as he waits at passport control. Six strangers from across the world meet to write poetry, open their hearts and let their imaginations run wild. 

Inspired by The Conference of the Birds, The Conference of the Trees traces the quest of a thousand-year-old Sufi poet to find utopia. From writing in car parks and community centres, to the fantastical quest of an oak tree in search of his cousin, the play meets six people determined to archive the world they have seen and imagine it otherwise.

Cast Norah Lopez-Holden, Joe Boylan, Jacoba Williams and Dana Haqjoo (2023)

Design Rosie Elnile & Milla Clarke / Music Anna Clock & Mohammed Sarrar / Cast Mudassar Dar (2021)