We are inviting youth theatres, school and youth groups across the world to create their own time capsule plays to coincide with the International Climate Conference in November 2020.

This supported devising project is suitable for any group of teenagers, any time-scale and any budget.

In late 2020, as the leaders of the world meet in Glasgow for the International Climate Change Conference (COP26), we want to invite groups of young people everywhere to make a theatrical time capsule capturing who they are at that pivotal moment in the world’s history.

Everything is a new play created by teenage members of Company Three, Ned Glasier and Emily Lim, the creative team behind our five-star hit play Brainstorm (National Theatre, BBC iPlayer) - which has now been performed by more than 80 youth companies across the world.

In partnership with Nick Hern Books, we have created a unique Everything Blueprint to help you make your version of the play. It’s suitable for any group of any size and can be scaled to meet any budget. You can translate it into any language you like.

We are licensing the blueprint exclusively from October - December 2020, as the world leaders meet in Glasgow to discuss the future of the planet.

What you’ll get
By signing up, you’ll get everything you need to make a play that really captures who your teenagers really are. And you’ll be doing it as part of a movement of companies across the world recording teenage experience - their daily lives, their deepest fears and their hopes for the future.

As an artist, you’ll become part of a big community of practice as we all make our version of the same play together.

Participating in the project will get you access to the blueprint, which includes a script template and detailed devising exercises, online guides, videos and podcasts, updates from our own rehearsal room and the opportunity to link up with other companies making their version of the play.

More information

What is Everything?
Everything is a play in which an audience watches a group of teenagers make a time capsule live on stage. They do this by filming a series of items, moments and other things connected with their life. The play starts with relatively simple things - objects, food, music - but becomes more complicated and personal as the time capsule progresses.

What do I need to make it?
A group of teenagers (any age, any experience, any ability, any background). We’re making ours with around 8-10 teenagers but have made previous versions with 18. You could easily work with more.

A space to perform it. A camera (this can be a phone), ideally connected to a projector (but this isn’t essential). A square box marked with tape on stage. Objects that you already own. That’s it.

You can make it much more technical and complicated if you and your cast want to, but it’s not essential.

Can I do it if I’m not based in the UK?
Yes please! We want people everywhere in the world to do it - the more the merrier.

Can I do it if I’m nervous about devising?
Absolutely! Our blueprint is designed to support experienced and first-time devisers.

Can I do it if I’m nervous about working with film onstage?
Definitely! We started out knowing nothing. All you need is to be able to film what’s happening on stage - modern phones make this easy. Again, you can make it more complicated if you have the expertise, but it’s really not essential.

What does it cost?
We’re keeping it as cheap as possible. There is a one off licence of £120 which covers you for the blueprint, all the online resources and four performances. We want everyone to be able to do it, so if that’s not possible - tell us and we’ll make it work for you.

Can I perform it at another time?
We want to group as many performances together around the Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2020, so we are inviting people to do their shows in October, November and December.

When can I get started?
The blueprint will be released in late April 2020. You can start making your show as soon as you like. We will begin to release online resources (videos, podcasts etc) as we begin to rehearse our version of the show in Summer 2020.

What will you do with the time capsule films?
We want every group who participates to find a way to really time capsule their play. This might involve burying the SD card, or uploading it online, or hiding it somewhere - whatever you think will preserve it for longest. But we are also exploring ways to collect everyone’s time capsules all together (and fire them into space… maybe).

Will there be a chance to come together with all the other companies?
We are exploring the possibility of an Everything Symposium in January 2020 to do just this.