During the financial crash in 2008, Fishamble: The New Play Company conceived the Tiny Play idea to help writers stay creatively engaged during challenging times. When the first lockdown hit in March 2020, they saw it as an opportunity to revisit the concept with a new partner. ESB’s purpose is to deliver a brighter future for the customers and communities they serve. As an organisation committed to taking urgent action to tackle climate change by eliminating carbon from the energy system, ESB recognised that the Tiny Plays could be an innovative means to engage the public in a conversation about climate change.

They commissioned Fishamble to create Tiny Plays for a Brighter Future; a challenge for writers to capture what a Brighter Future means for communities across Ireland, in a 600-word tiny play. Over 350 submissions were received, and three of the ten shortlisted playwrights had their work produced, staged, and filmed by Fishamble. In addition, Fishamble delivered staff engagement workshops for ESB. Fishamble also took the opportunity to approach the production, staging, and filming of the plays with a sustainability focus. Costumes either belonged to the actors or were borrowed, or sourced from charity shops. No single-use set pieces or props were made, Director Jim Culleton instead used the theatre itself as a set and backdrop.

Gerard McNaughton, Creative Director with TileStyle, and judge for this year’s Awards was particularly struck by the depth of engagement from both parties saying ‘the project stood out on many fronts to me, it was very considered and balanced in addressing the needs and desired outcomes for both partners. I was also impressed with how deep-rooted the collaboration was, from identifying ESB’s needs and desire to talk about climate change and the need for clean electricity to Fishamble’s core goal to engage new writing at a community and national level’.