Thor the Walrus

When you think about climate change, it’s unlikely followed with a smile, let alone a giggle. Claire Watts satirical comedy “Thor the Walrus” highlights humans laughable approach to the impending doom we face in the hope it will help us strive for better.

Our protagonist is Thor, a disgruntled and slightly irritating, walrus from the Arctic. We follow him as he travels to the UK to understand why his home is melting and his beloved clams are becoming scarce. Along the way, he encounters a colorful cast of characters, from a flamboyant starfish, and irritable crab. Despite their comedic exaggeration, in this tale, the animals are a lot more rational than the humans: an interesting metaphor for how far our reasoning has become disconnected from the natural world.

Thor’s interactions with humans, including a perfectly pompous Rishi Sunak and a very hateable coast guard, feel apt and well observed. These moments highlight the often absurd and contradictory approaches to addressing environmental issues in modern society. The play felt like a British, and more woke, version of elf. For a lefty like me, to be called woke is a badge of achievement.

Thor's journey is narrated perfectly by the presenters of ‘ climate news’ who nailed the smiley and sugary aesthetic of a media that will happily greenwash the crisis away. Guest appearances, such as a fat cat oil exec talking about bogus offsetting schemes, further exposed these methods. For me, this device was both the funniest, and most successful of the show.

For a fringe show, the set showed how you can be impactful on a shoe string. Our news desk was made out of cardboard and selfie rings served as lighting. It was a reminder of how new this production is, the 17th show at Omnibus being the first time it was seen by the public. Considering this it’s impressive. Both the writing and the acting provoked genuine laughter on the night despite a few minor hiccups.

I do wonder (and hope) if Thor's story will be as engaging for someone less clued up about the climate crisis as it was for me, for whom it’s part of my day job. It’s easy to chuckle with recognition at the rambles and idiocy of politician’s, or the phony advertising of big brands who are making it worse, when you are well versed with the real deal. There was no doubt confusion from any climate skeptics or news avoiders who might have accidentally wondered at the mention of jargon like 'carbon neutral' or other of the more industry specifc themes.

Overall though, I think Watt’s play is a more attractive voyage into climate matters than most. By using humour to disarm a usually serious and impenetrable topic, Thor and co could be the charismatic leaders the climate movement has desperately needed for so long.

Catch Thor the Walrus at The Fringe from August the 2nd to the 8th.