New show Finding Petunia LittleTree to premiere on October 2 at James Milne Institute, Findhorn, for Findhorn Bay Arts Festival

A LOCAL choreographer is unveiling her new show to a local audience as part of the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival.

Finding Petunia LittleTree, a new show by Findhorn choreographer Sharon Took-Zozaya, takes on climate change in a humorous but affecting way.

Coming to the James Milne Institute in Findhorn on October 2, the story follows Petunia, a woman who is conflicted about how to deal with looming climate catastrophe and who cares for a little tree as though it was a baby.

Ms Took-Zozaya's original script, combined with Quee MacArthur's sound design, reveals Petunia's quirky, inconsistent emotional responses to the climate emergency through a compassionate lens.

It tells part of a collective story and asks: "How can we live with what we know, with humour, dark undertones and all?"

The production is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, Surge, The Work Room and Citymoves.

Speaking about the production, Ms Took-Zozaya said: "Petunia's voice and movement embody her contradictory reactions to the climate crisis in both comical and deeply moving ways as she explores communication among trees, relationships with plastic rubbish, the tree's personal history of fire and deforestation, and humans; interdependence with the natural world.

"Her cognitive dissonances mirror those being played out more globally, asking audiences to reflect on and energise their own options and choices within the climate drama.

"Quee MacArthur's richly textured sound score amplifies imagery, movement and text as Petunia reveals her paradoxical relationship with a young tree that she treats like a baby."

Set and costume design for the show is being handled by Lesley Downie, aiming to bolster the visual impact of this piece.

Also featuring video projections by Lorenz Gramann and Sharon Took-Zozaya, the piece spotlights local dancers Melissa MacGillivray, Prriyanka Gonawalaa, Ruby Worth, Sarah DaBell and Simone Kenyon.

Took-Zozaya read The Environmental Handbook by Garrett De Bell as a teenager in the early 1970s.

She expected decisive, effective actions to prevent the climate disasters the book predicted.

However, those predictions are increasingly coming true and this piece responds to the situation in which we find ourselves.

This is Took-Zozaya's first presentation of her own work at the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival.

In 2018, she performed as the Swan in Buke of the Howlat by Morna Young.

This year's Findhorn Bay Festival will present a journey of exploration and discovery for Scotland’s Year of Stories, offering glimpses into the past and hopes for the future, and experiences of nature, culture and adventure.

Sharon Took-Zozaya has choreographed and performed across Scotland and internationally in a variety of professional, higher education and community contexts, with both able-bodied and disabled performers.

Most recently, Shadows and Dappled Light, a cross art form work, premiered at the DanceLive festival in Aberdeen last October.

Click here for more information about the show.

Tickets can also be bought by phoning: 01309 675333.