Meet Apolonia Tamata, a playwright and linguist from Fiji, whose work bridges the worlds of language, storytelling, and climate action. As a participant in the Climate Action Artist Residencies, she has been developing her latest play, which explores the devastating impact of climate change on Fijian coastal communities. During her three-month residency in Germany, Apolonia worked with her host organization, EUCC-D – Coastal Union Germany, gaining scientific insights into marine conservation and coastal protection.

Integrating these learnings into her artistic practice, she is transforming her stage production into a multisensory experience, using sound and visual projections to immerse audiences in the realities faced by Pacific Island communities.

Apolonia’s work raises urgent questions: How can indigenous communities preserve their collective way of life as they adapt to a changing climate? How does language shape the way we understand climate change? And how can theater amplify these critical conversations?