The Minerva Theatre's current production of Atlantis is drawing significant attention from Surrey audiences, and for good reason. The play, written by emerging Welsh playwright Emily White, who has already earned the prestigious George Devine Award, explores a profound and familiar dilemma: should we sacrifice our own lives to protect a future we will never see? This question, while not new, is given fresh urgency through the lens of a family facing the encroaching sea.
Four Generations Face Rising Tides
White's play uniquely involves four generations of the same family as their coastal home is gradually surrendered to the ocean. Climate change, political inertia, and family tensions rise together, creating a compelling narrative that challenges audiences to consider their own responsibilities. The play is not a quest for a lost civilization but a warning about losing our current one, asking what we should do about it.
The cast delivers an extraordinary believability and humanity to family life, making the production resonate deeply. While some characters seem to be allocated specific issues rather than living their own lives, the script's distressing and haunting power remains undeniable. As sea levels rise, the play asks: what can one do? What should one do? Where does responsibility to loved ones end, and where does it begin for those we may never know?
A Haunting Dilemma
Emily White does not offer easy answers, which is where the play's haunting quality lingers. The dilemma is made more acute for audience members stepping out of the air-conditioned theatre into the searing heat, a stark reminder of the climate crisis at the heart of the narrative. Atlantis shows until Saturday, August 15, with tickets available online.
Guildford Fringe 2026: A Packed September Lineup
In other cultural news, the Guildford Fringe 2026 opens on Friday, September 4, offering a diverse programme of cabaret, comedy, music, theatre, spoken word, opera, and film. Events will be spread across ten different venues in the town, ensuring there is something for everyone.
The first week alone features an astonishing variety: opera from the Guildhall Balcony, lurid confessions from Lady Bracknell at the Back Room of The Star Public House, a Rock Choir Day in the High Street, Drag story-time at Waterstones Book Shop, and Glitter, guilt, and good intentions at the cabaret bar of The Fallen Angel. The Fringe runs until Saturday, September 19, with ticket information available online and a colour brochure appearing across the town.
