Performing Animal Rights – Details, episodes & analysis

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/