Creative Writing and Apocalyptic Futures

How do we live in an age of uncertain futures? Can we reconcile the different strategies people deploy to future-proof their lives, from the billionaires building bunkers through to prepper subcultures and sovereign citizens? And might the creative arts, if not answer these questions, provide a way into thinking through these questions, to help us live with our anxiety about humanity's future?

In this episode creative non-fiction author Tom Doig and playwright Oliver Gough join hosts Matthew Bapty and Emma Cole to discuss how creative writing intersects with the theme of apocalyptic futures. Tom shares insights into the work he is doing for his next book, We Are All Preppers Now, playing field recordings for listeners from prepper communities and humanising the individuals behind the headlines. Meanwhile, Oliver explores the particular valency of playwriting as a form of creative writing for thinking through the climate crisis. We end the episode with a reading of Oliver's monologue I am the Oil. Lend us your ears as we explore how creative writing for the page and the stage can help us grapple with unknown and even apocalyptic futures.