'Fever Dream' is a satirical play by Mumbai-based theatre company tafreehwale that tackles the climate crisis through the lens of a fictional Shark Tank-style reality show. Centred around three innovators pitching “Cool Pods”, a tech solution designed to combat rising global temperatures, the play uses humour and irony to question society’s obsession with quick fixes to systemic environmental problems. In collaboration with Asar and Climate Culture Collective, the production urges audiences to reflect on their own role in the ongoing climate emergency.
We no longer experience climate change as an abstract warning tucked away in scientific reports: we see it in the smogged up mornings or the debilitating AQI that makes even breathing impossible or the systemic water crisis our country’s urban landscape is entrenched in. Yet, despite the urgency, conversations around the climate crisis often oscillate between alarmism and apathy. The scale of the problem can feel paralysing and the data simply numbing.
This is precisely where art becomes indispensable.
Fever Dream, is a bold and imaginative new play by the Mumbai-based company 'tafreehwale', which means ‘those who delight’, is dedicated to making and supporting political and playful theatre productions. Written by Meghana AT and Nayantara Nayar, at its heart, Fever Dream uses sharp satire and irony to confront one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change.
The play is set within the absurdly familiar world of a fictional tech Shark Tanky reality show, Tech Fever, where three eccentric innovators, Viren, Shree, and Deepak bring their revolutionary invention, the “Cool Pods”. These 'modern wonders' are designed to protect humanity from the relentless heat of a warming planet. With a ₹2 crore seed fund up as the grand prize, they have the chance to revolutionize the climate crisis and possibly save the planet. In collaboration with Asar and Climate Culture Collective, ‘Fever Dream’ is meant to question the audience and the role they wish and think they play in the ongoing climate crisis.
The characters themselves represent different archetypes we see in modern life: the startup entrepreneur with grand ambitions, the practical business owner striving to make a positive impact, and the gig-worker/aspiring actor who stands in for those most vulnerable to climate impacts — daily labourers, street vendors, and informal workers whose lives and healths are already affected by rising temperatures.
A lot of these topics we want to talk about be it social justice or climate justice or social justice, it is very overwhelming and exhausting, and those of us who are reading the news are constantly trying not to be depressed. So how do we keep engaging with the word and not get burnt out? And that satire and playfulness allows us to stay with difficult topics a little longer and go deeper with the headline.Meghana AT
Beyond the laughs and pitch-perfect irony, Fever Dream delivers a poignant takeaway: the climate crisis isn’t a future problem that can be outsourced to fantastical inventions. It’s happening now, and everyone must confront the realities of environmental change, and realise how deep seated we all are in the climate crisis, and the more we delay action, the quicker will it come hurling towards us.
Fever Dream is playing in Mumbai at Rangshila, Versova on 12th March and NGMA, Fort on 13th March, along with a show at The Box in Pune on 14th March. Book your tickets here, and learn more about the show here.
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