Shell Case

Photo by Karin Jonkers, 2020

“Appealing, beautiful piece about the climate crisis” ★★★★★  Scenes

In 2021, a historic ruling was handed down by the Dutch civil court ordering oil giant Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030. It was a ground breaking win for environmental organisations and many in the Netherlands spoke of it being as turning point for how big business would need to respond to growing climate activism. Yet the oil giant seemed entirely un-phased.   What was unknown at the time was that Shell had forecast and prepared for such a scenario for over 20 years.

As early as 1998, Shell predicted that at some point in the future they would face a major climate lawsuit.    Shell has a so-called Scenarios Team that enables the company to anticipate and adapt to political, economic and social changes.  They had anticipated that public awareness of global warming and its impact would increase, as would social outrage at what was the perceived responsibility of big business in denying for decades what scientific facts had detailed would happen if changes were not made.

For three years the writers Anoek Nuyena and Rebekka de Wit analysed the stakeholders of the climate crisis, diving into their interests, motivations and rhetoric. They visited shareholder meetings, read speeches and interviews, ploughed through policy briefs and international agreements and noted down remarks about global warming by politicians, CEOs, neighbours and family members. This artistic research methodology, based on Shell’s own corporate tool, culminated in the creation of Shell Case.

Shell Case brings all these voices together in what might be termed a scenario department for civilians. In the form of monologues, the performance shows the audience the intricacy of the climate debate. With precision and care each party explains their role in creating global warming and situates themself in relation to the influences that act on them. 

What unfolds is a painful insight into the deadlock in which we find ourselves, in which the climate crisis is ultimately shown to be a crisis of responsibility.

Shell Case has been performed in the Netherlands to great acclaim. Writers Anoek Nuyens and Rebekka de Wit won Regieprijs (Directing Award), Jaap Spijkers won the Arlecchino (best male supporting role) and Musia Mwankumi was nominated for a Colombina (best female supporting role).

★★★★★ Volkskrant 

★★★★★ NRC

It will toure in autumn 2024 to venues including ITA in Amsterdam.