This month, there’s a different type of choir touring the UK. They’re called the Stop Shopping Choir and their performances are coinciding with COP26. They’ve already brought their show to London, the South East and East of England. Now, they’re about to hit the North West and Scotland.
So, who are this choir and what are they all about? They’re a bunch of environmentalist-activist singers, headed by New York-based performer known as Reverend Billy. This 25-strong Stop Shopping Choir are celebrating their 20th anniversary with this tour, using songs and diversity to create resistance. The ensemble’s arrival in Glasgow for the final days of the COP26 conference will be the climax of their Earth Riot 21 UK tour.
The environmental activist singers bring their joyful and radical music to create defiant response to our climate change emergency. At each stop on the tour they’ve been meeting with local activists and campaigners to discuss environmental issues and launch appropriate actions.
A positive and engaging way to protest
While the choir are principally based in New York, this tour will also introduce the newly formed and inspiring London Stop Shopping Choir, minimising the carbon emissions from their journey. And this tour has been made carbon neutral by using certified offsetting schemes.
This inspiring ‘church’ is co-founded by Savitri D, a native of New Mexico with a background in dance and experimental theatre. The idea is to combine joyous choral music with stagecraft. While Reverend Billy Talen is an actor, performance artist and activist who began his experimental preaching in Times Square in 1998. Soon singers were accompanying his ‘retail interventions’ in chain stores, shopping malls and on the streets.
Catch the choir as they head to Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre on Wednesday 10th November or at the Glasgow shows at the CCA on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th. Both of the Glasgow shows will be BSL interpreted.
Love quirky live performances? We’ve got more music and theatre for you to discover!
When: 10th – 12th November 2021
Where: The Capstone Theatre, Liverpool and Glasgow CCA
£: Tickets cost £5 – £8 for the Liverpool gig and Pay What You Can for the Glasgow gig
More info: revbilly.com