New Beginning
A collective breath for our future planet“This is performance art at the highest level. One cannot help but become overwhelmed by the originality and thoughtfulness of this production.”The New Current
A collective breath for our future planet
New Beginning is a truly distinctive experience — a spellbinding journey through time, nature, and imagination, brought to life through the latest in design-led technology. Featuring multidimensional video projections by Lab-meta, a haunting soundscape, and lyrical prose voiced by Michelle Newell (EN) and Marja-Leena Junker (FR), this intimate, yet epic, production invites audiences into a mythical forest where the echoes of the past and visions of the planet’s future intertwine.
Created by award-winning British artist David Shearing and the Variable Matter collective, New Beginning reimagines what theatre can be. It explores the fragile yet profound relationship between humans and the natural world, conjuring moments of quiet wonder and urgent reflection. With a richly textured score by composer James Bulley, poetic narration by Zakiya McKenzie, and Joshua Gadsby’s ethereal lighting design, the production guides audiences on a sensory journey that’s both moving and thought-provoking.
Exploring the magic of forests and the devastating effect of climate change, it premiered at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in August 2023 for eight performances. In May 2025 the production was restaged at The Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg for four performances in French and English, as part of the Focus Adolescence Generations season.
“This innovative production goes a significant way in contributing to evolving definitions of what we mean by theatre”Havering Daily
“Shearing's soul-stirring masterwork is intimate & epic. Invoking awe & urgency, it's a timely reflection on our impact on Earth”Fringe Biscuit
“All dressed in black, as if in mourning, very dignified and solemn, these young people are our whistleblowers. Their awareness awakens our own. It’s up to us to act. Message received, 10 out of 10.”Classique News
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