The Lyric Theatre Eco Project: Waste Busters Eco Musical

On Monday 26 February 2024, DAERA’s Environmental Resources Policy Division (ERPD) staff attended a performance of the Lyric Theatre’s Eco-Musical ‘Waste Busters’, along with staff and pupils from Holy Rosary Primary School, Belfast.

Cast members took the audience on a musical journey looking at ways in which we all can make changes to our daily routines to “refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle”, highlighting environmental issues like the impact of plastic pollution in Northern Ireland and moving beyond recycling as the solution.

The journey was an educational and emotional one for the audience as the cast highlighted the effect that our daily routine, and the choices we make, can have on our environment and how to prevent waste through behaviour change.

‘Waste Busters the Eco-Musical’, is a short musical written and composed for the Lyric Theatre by Rebecca Applin. Reaching an audience of 3,500 young people, it aims to raise awareness of littering and plastic pollution and encourage the next generation to help protect the environment.

The production is aimed at 8 to 11-year-old pupils and is currently touring schools across Northern Ireland. DAERA has provided grant funding to enable this project to go ahead – demonstrating a great example of the Department undertaking a unique approach to behaviour change.

Supporting the start of ‘Waste Busters the Eco-Musical’ tour, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said:

“I am delighted to support the fantastic Waste Busters Eco-Musical again this year. This is a wonderful example of funding from the Carrier Bag Levy supporting an environmental project that continues to improve school children’s understanding of waste prevention issues and promote behaviour change within their schools and families across Northern Ireland.”

Erin Hoey, Acting Head of Creative Learning at Lyric Theatre, added:

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the fourth consecutive year to deliver this exciting project to primary school audiences.  ‘Waste Busters the Eco-Musical’ will tour to schools across Northern Ireland bringing a unique opportunity to learn about important environmental issues in an engaging, memorable way.”

Feedback received from children and staff who attended the show has been very positive. In particular the children enjoyed joining in with the singing and interacting with the cast. Some staff could be seen singing along also! 

Remember a few simple changes can have a big impact. If you haven’t cut back on your use of plastic, now is a great time to do it.   

You can make a longer-term commitment to eradicating plastic pollution by signing the Plastic Promise. It only takes a few minutes and some of you will be gratified to see that you are probably already making the right choices, but there is always more to do!

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse!

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