This performance is hosted by the Geneva Graduate Institute in association with International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and funded by Lex International.

Talking About The Fire was created by seven-time Fringe First winner Chris Thorpe and Claire O’Reilly (Abbey Theatre) and developed with Tony Award-winning Rachel Chavkin. 

Leading with the question “Nuclear weapons could destroy us all, right now — so why aren’t we talking about them?”, Talking About The Fire is an interactive play — with elements of storytelling, stand-up and music — about a new nuclear weapons treaty that encourages the audience to join in on the conversation about “the continued existence of nuclear weapons and what we can realistically do about it”. 

Chris Thorpe elaborates, “There’s a perception that these global issues are difficult to talk about, because the decision-making around them is the territory of ‘experts’. The show makes the case that we can all talk about them.” 

This play could not be more timely. The risk of nuclear weapons is higher than at any point in the past decades, with nuclear powers threatening their use and announcing their intention to resume nuclear testing. "Talking About The Fire" invites us to address this risk head-on, and we hope that it will start many new conversations about nuclear weapons and possible paths towards their abolition.

Nico Krisch, Professor and Head of the International Law Department

Since its premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in December 2023, Talking About The Fire has been performed internationally — in London, across the United Kingdom, the United States and notably in Oslo alongside the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize celebrations.