In this special end-of-year episode of Podcast 13, hosts Ian Garrett and Vanesa Kelly reflect on the revival of Venue 13 and the ideas shaping its future, using the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as a guiding frame. The episode looks back on reopening an artist-led Fringe venue, explores standout projects from the season including Market 13 and AI Campfire, and considers what ethical, climate-focused practice looks like right now. Featuring a conversation with playwright and Climate Change Theatre Action founder Chantal Bilodeau, the episode also marks CCTA’s tenth anniversary and looks ahead to new models for climate storytelling, accessibility, and artist support through the launch of Future 13. A thoughtful and forward-looking close to the year.

Episode 5 - A Venue 13 Carol: The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future 13 + Appealing by Paula Cizmar

In this episode, Vanesa and Ian focus on sustainable theatre practice after Vanesa’s visit to the National Theatre event on the 14th November in London, where the Theatre Green Book took centre stage in an incredible event. They unpack the discussions, the international perspectives, and the sense of collective responsibility that shaped the day.

Ian reflects on his own past involvement with the Green Book and the broader questions it raises for productions, buildings and operations, as well as his experience with the CSPA in Canada. Together, they also explore what these ideas mean for Venue 13 as it develops, and how their upcoming non-profit Future 13 will put these principles into practice.

They also bring you this week’s CCTA reading: SO BEAUTIFUL TODAY, SO SUNNY by Marcus Youssef with Seth Klein.

Episode 4 - Inside the Theatre Green Book + So Beautiful Today, So Sunny by Marcus Youssef and Seth Klein

In this episode, Ian and Vanesa take you on the next stage of their UAE adventure! After World Stage Design 2025 in Sharjah, Ian delivered a talk at NYU Abu Dhabi, exploring “Somewhere in Time: Ghosts, People, Sites, and Signals.” 

Together they reflect on Ian's presentation, touring the university’s incredible Red Theater, Blue Hall, and Black Box, and engaging with the curiosity around sustainable, hybrid, and ecological design.

Plus, they share their experience at TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a 17,000 m² immersive art space where light, water, sound, and motion respond to your presence whilst sparking ideas about participation, performance, and the future of stage design.

All this as well as bringing you the reading of their weekly CCTA play. This week you heard Earth Duet, by E.M. Lewis. 

Episode 3 – teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and NYUAD + Earth Duet by E.M. Lewis

In Episode 2 of Podcast 13, Ian and Vanesa take you inside World Stage Design 2025, an international gathering of scenographers, artists, and researchers shaping the future of performance.

Ian shares his perspective as a seasoned participant, and reflects on how this year’s WSD compares to previous editions, while Vanesa brings her first impressions as a playwright and producer, discovering this global creative community.

Together, they discuss new collaborations, inspirations from the Scenofest Research Symposium, and how events like WSD connect to the work happening at Venue 13.

Episode 2 - Venue 13 at WSD2025 in Sharjah UAE + Space Cat by Lewis Hetherington

In our very first episode, we celebrate the launch of Podcast 13 by completing the Climate Change Theatre Action 2025 project with the final three plays: SCARY-Scary by Klae Bainter, UNDERTOW by Keith Barker, and We’re Running Out of Chairs by Kirby Vicente. Alongside these readings, co-directors Ian Garrett and Vanesa Kelly reflect on the whirlwind of Venue 13’s debut season as the first fully vegan Fringe venue, the premiere of A.I. Campfire, and what it means to carry the spirit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe into a year-round conversation on theatre, climate, and collaboration.

Episode 1 - What Happens When Two People Decide to Have a Venue (and a Podcast)

Podcast 13 launches with a special teaser episode, completing Venue 13’s ambitious presentation of all fifty plays from Climate Change Theatre Action 2025. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe, this debut captures the energy of a month filled with theatre, food, and conversations about sustainability and community. The series sets the stage for weekly play readings, artist interviews, and deep dives into how the arts can spark new ways of imagining our shared future.

Introducing Podcast 13

At the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Venue 13 has always been more than just a stage—it’s a launchpad for bold voices, boundary-pushing performances, and international exchange. Podcast 13 extends that spirit into the digital space, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes journey into the world’s largest arts festival and the global creative networks it inspires.

Each episode features conversations with artists, producers, and cultural leaders who have made Venue 13 their home, exploring how theatre, performance, and live art intersect with community, technology, and climate consciousness. From intimate stories of artists’ first Fringe experiences to deep dives into the future of sustainable cultural production, the podcast captures the energy and experimentation that define the venue.

Whether you’re a festival-goer, an emerging artist looking for insight, or simply curious about how performance can shape the way we understand our world, Podcast 13 opens the doors to one of the Fringe’s most artist-centered spaces.

Venue 13

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