North East Community Planning Partnership Area and South Community Planning Partnership Area, Phase 5

As part of Glasgow Life’s Artists in Communities programme, Green Economy Iteration, in the North East and South Community Planning Partnership Areas, John Binnie, Tina Freeland, and Robin Mitchell collaborated with communities to create a series of eco-plays exploring themes of wellbeing, climate justice, pollution, recycling and government responsibility.

Working closely with Riverbank Primary School, NHS Restart Bridgeton, Cassiltoun Writers and Lodging House Mission 360 (LHM360), the team facilitated weekly intergenerational workshops across multiple art forms. Through shared storytelling, songwriting, visual art and theatre-making, participants shaped a play that gave voice to their concerns about the environment.

An informal work-in-progress sharing allowed pupils and adults from different groups to come together and present early scenes and songs. The final performances took place at Riverbank Primary School, Miller Primary School and LHM360 and featured an intergenerational cast drawn from all participating groups, with sets made from used packaging and costumes sourced and crafted by the community and artists.

Building on the relationships formed, John and Tina expanded the project into new communities across Glasgow’s Southside. With Cassiltoun Writers, they co-created Red Weather Warning, a short play written with contributions from NHS Restart, Swinton Primary School, Miller Primary School and Highpark Primary School. The work continued to centre young people’s and community members’ voices in conversations about climate resilience.

Further collaboration with Cassiltoun Writers led to the publication of Capturing Castlemilk 2, a booklet celebrating Castlemilk Park’s designation as a Local Nature Reserve. The publication showcased the area’s natural heritage through writing and photography and deepened local pride in the landscape.

At St Paul’s High School in Pollok, the team revisited themes from IN OUR HANDS to create a new short play about climate change and pollution. Pupils performed the work in Damshot Woods, a site of environmental significance due to the 1995 Pollok Free State protest. The performance was part of Connecting Pollok: Past, Present and Future, an ecological heritage project led by The Village Storytelling Centre and funded by Inspiring Scotland. It empowered young people to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future.

The team also worked collaboratively with Velocity’s Singing for Fun, with the group performing songs as part of the Artist in Communities' celebratory final performance, IN OUR HANDS, which was performed at Riverbank Primary.  

A special thanks to community partners, supporters and contributors:  Riverbank Primary School | NHS Restart Bridgeton | Cassiltoun Writers | Lodging House Mission 360 (LHM360) | St Paul’s High School | The Village Storytelling Centre | Inspiring Scotland | Swinton Primary School | Miller Primary School | Highpark Primary School.

Image - Robin Mitchell