Rainforest Fund Tickets

The Rainforest Fund, founded by musician Sting and his wife Trudie Styler in 1989, is a charitable organization dedicated to protecting rainforests and their indigenous peoples. Over the years, the fund has supported countless environmental and social justice projects around the world. But did you know that theater has played a crucial role in the fund’s activities?

In the early years of the Rainforest Fund’s existence, the annual benefit concert was the primary way that the organization raised money and awareness for its cause. These star-studded events – featuring performers like Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Elton John, and of course, Sting – not only raised millions of dollars for rainforest protection, but also brought attention to the many issues facing rainforest communities.

But concerts weren’t the only place where theater played a role in the Rainforest Fund’s work. In the mid-1990s, the fund began supporting a groundbreaking theatrical production called The Secret History of the Brazilian Bombshells. Written by playwright David Hare, the play used humor and music to explore the devastating impact of deforestation on Amazonian communities. The proceeds from the play’s run in London went directly to support the Rainforest Foundation UK (a sister organization to the Rainforest Fund), and helped raise both money and awareness for the fight against rainforest destruction.

Since then, theater has continued to be a powerful tool for the Rainforest Fund. In 2016, the fund co-produced a workshop production of a new musical called Amazônia: Voices From the Rainforest. Based on the true stories of Amazonian activists fighting against massive hydroelectric dam projects, the show featured traditional Brazilian music and dance alongside contemporary pop sounds. It was a critical success and helped the fund expand its reach among younger audiences.

More recently, the Rainforest Fund partnered with the National Theatre of Scotland to produce a multi-media event called Beyond the Horizon. The show combined live performance, virtual reality, soundscapes, and film to create an immersive experience that highlighted the beauty and fragility of rainforests around the world. Through this collaboration, the Rainforest Fund once again demonstrated how theater can be a powerful tool for education and advocacy.

In short, the Rainforest Fund’s engagement with theater over the years is a testament to the power of art to inspire action and effect positive change in the world. By combining their passion for social justice with a love of the arts, Sting and Trudie Styler have helped create a legacy that will continue to influence both theater and environmental activism for years to come.