Bright Light Burning (Baku)

Introduction

Steven Gaultney’s Bright Light Burning is a theatrical journey that merges artistry, storytelling, and environmental activism. Our interdisciplinary production aims to shift perspectives, evoke empathy, and galvanize audiences to take meaningful steps toward a sustainable future. 

Set in the year 2099, the audience gathers in a theatre in Baku, Azerbaijan, which has been repurposed as a holding center for migrants. The narrative focuses on characters who must deal with the realities of climate-induced migration, and the audience is cast as migrants alongside them. 

Blurring the line between performer and observer, the play is a powerful statement on the social and emotional toll of climate displacement. It emphasizes the urgent need for empathy and collective action in the face of global crises.