Current Productions
TIPPING POINT 2029 - a dramatized comment on Climate Change
TIPPING POINT 2029 – a dramatized comment on Climate Change
WAW and WHAM present
Tipping Point 2029
A ‘seriously’ entertaining theatrical contribution to the Climate Change debate
by Werner Mittelstaedt/Wolf Heidecker
The Showroom (Theatre) at The MC Showroom
at Level 1, 50 Clifton Street, Prahran VIC 3181.
19 - 22 November 2025 (7:30pm – 9:10 pm)
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DAPRD
Recently, United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, issued a dire warning to representatives from 40 countries at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, calling for more concrete action to tackle what he called a “climate emergency. “We have a choice,” Mr. Guterres said in a video message. “Collective action or collective suicide. It is in our hands.”
In that speech Guterres also officially used the term ‘Tipping Point’ that seems to be very close.
There are not many stage-plays around about Climate Change and Global Warming, topics important for artists to comment on and to raise awareness in word and song, especially in the theatre, a place where socially and politically relevant topics historically have their forum.
The new Australian play Tipping Point 2029 – a dramatized comment on Climate Change by Wolf Heidecker is based on a book by German Futurist, scientific environmental activist, and Futurism-Philosopher Werner Mittelstaedt who, in close cooperation with his Australian writing partner, provided the actual figures and facts referred to in the script.
The Play
is set in a TV-Studio prior to the recording of a panel discussion and offers a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ view behind the scenes which is quite informative but also entertaining as is inherent in the genre.
2029 – for many years Australia has experienced the devastating consequences of global warming.
The Story
A live discussion in a TV-Show in Europe triggered worldwide panic – for the first time it was officially announced that the earth has reached the “Tipping Point”, the point of no return in the destruction of the environment. Climate Change with a non-reversible perspective.
In typical Australian fashion an Australian free-to-air TV station wants to be the first in the southern hemisphere to take on the topic and has invited internationally renowned personalities to calm the situation down by informing the population about the “facts” and “data” available instead of spreading fear and innuendo.
It is accomplished TV-Presenter Bettina Roland’s job to work out the most positive outlook into the future from the discussion she is leading.
Get an intriguing look behind the scenes of this TV production that has no precedence, the tensions and the unmasked truth of a panel discussion recorded but not live streamed …for a reason.
Is that the future – our future?
The Team:
Alex Brown (LX/Sound/Visual Designer/Head Tech);
Dr. Shanshan Kou (Consulting Producer); Natulie Moffatt (Stage Manager and Performer)
Performers Joanne Armstrong; Fanny Hanusin; Joshinder Kaur Chaggar; Rosemary Johns; David Lih; Victoria Teh; Jamie Vu; Isabelle Wang.
Directed by Wolf Heidecker
Encouraged by experiences with the critically acclaimed production of plays about the successful community protest against the establishment of a ‘Toxic Waste Dump’ in the outer West of Melbourne (A Hole in the Ground by Janet Brown and Joanne Ryan [MP since 2013]), the Australian justice system (The Australian Justice Supper by David Strangward) and the 2011 Melbourne Festival production about homelessness in Melbourne (Site Unseen by Graham Pitts and Robyn Szechtman in collaboration with the homeless community) with Tipping Point 2029 a dramatized comment on Climate Change the focus is on another topic of significant importance not only to the local community but humanity in general.
TIPPING POINT 2029
- a dramatized comment on climate change
Photo: Gisela Bernhart ©
\
A ‘seriously’ entertaining theatrical contribution to the Climate Change debate
The MC Showroom at Level 1, 50 Clifton Street, Prahran VIC 3181
19 - 22 November 2025 (7:30pm – 9:10 pm)
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DAPRD
Wolf Heidecker (Director/Producer/Playwright)
Wolf is a trained performing artist/director, Behavioural/Communications Analyst, and theatre producer who spent half of his professional career in the German arts industry as Admin and PR-officer, Tour Manager, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer/General Manager with several German opera and theatre companies. In Australia he brought several original Australian plays to the stage for the first time, he also gained extensive experience with ethnic groups and theatres working with Indian and Vietnamese writers and ensembles as well as Aboriginal, Maori and South Pacific Islander groups.
Most recently he produced and directed four short plays by Alex Broun (Encounters, March 2025) at The MC Showroom after a sell-out season at La Mama/Carlton of Melka Stansah’s play Farewell Lady Autumn (March 24).
With his production company WHAM he toured in May 2021 Bernard Clancy’s play about PTSD Foxholes of the Mind which premiered in 2010 at La Mama to SA, ACT, TAS and NSW and directed the futuristic play DEFECT by Melka Stansah at Club Voltaire/Nth Melbourne in June 2022, followed by the Australasian Chinese Theatre Company’s intercultural play Covid Baby by Moni Lai Storz.
The new Australian play Tipping Point 2029– a dramatized comment on Climate Change by Wolf Heidecker is based on a book by German Futurist, scientific environmental activist, and Futurism-Philosopher Werner Mittelstaedt who, in close cooperation with his Australian writing partner, provided the actual figures and facts referred to in the script.
Werner Mittelstaedt (Author of the original version)
Website: www.werner-mittelstaedt.com
Vita: www.werner-mittelstaedt.com/vita.html
Wolf’s Note
Encouraged by experiences with the critically acclaimed production of plays about the successful community protest against the establishment of a ‘Toxic Waste Dump’ in the outer West of Melbourne (A Hole in the Ground by Janet Brown and Joanne Ryan [MP since 2013]), the Australian justice system (The Australian Justice Supper by David Strangward) and the 2011 Melbourne Festival production about homelessness in Melbourne (Site Unseen by Graham Pitts and Robyn Szechtman in collaboration with the homeless community) with Tipping Point 2029 a dramatized comment on Climate Change the focus is on another topic of significant importance not only to the local community but humanity in general
Alex Brown (LX/Sound/Visual Design, Head Tech/Operator)
Alex Brown is very active in the theatre and technical space for the past 5 years. This will be his second show with WHAM as technical designer. He is excited to join the wonderful team behind this show. Alex hopes that you enjoy the show.
CAST
Fanny Hanusin (Prof. Stephanie Fissler)
Fanny Hanusin is a performer of Chinese-Indonesian origin. She received Green Room Award for her performance in Hospital of the Lost Coin and The Vanishing Box in La Mama.
Highlights of past productions included Asylum (Wal Cherry Play of the Year) and Serial Blogger (Green Room nominee for Alternative/Hybrid Production) that integrated street located touch screens, YouTube and live performance. Another highlight was performing in Attract/Repel, an honest and hilarious exploration of personal stories on racism. The show was awarded Kultour Tour Development Award by Melbourne Fringe.
She also performed in Chinese Whispers that won Best Live Art and Innovation in Culturally Diverse Practice in Melbourne Fringe.
Fanny’s television credits included Offspring, The Slap, Wentworth, Get Crack!n, The Spooky Files and a main cast role in Bogan Pride, a musical comedy miniseries on SBS. She has also performed for MTC in Happy Ending and Beached. Her latest production in La Mama was the sold-out season of Farewell Lady Autumn in 2024 after the production Miss W Treads that celebrated one of the early stars of Sydney stages, Eliza Winstanley.
Isabelle Wang (Bettina Roland)
Isabelle Wang is an accomplished actress with credits in film, television, and theatre across China and Australia. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Performing Arts degree with further training at NIDA’s Screen Actor Studio, she began her career in China before returning to Australia in 2019.
Her screen work includes the lead in “Play On” which won the Best Short Film- Indo–Singapore International Film Festival in 2021. Guest role in “Blood Brothers”, portraying real life Hollywood starlet Anna May Wong; produced by John Woo.
On stage, her performances as Qiu Jin in “Farewell Lady Autumn” at La Mama Theatre which had a sold-out season in 2024. She also reprised the lead role of Mei Ling in both “Covid Baby” 2022 and “Mei Ling in Melbourne”2019 co-produced by Australasian Chinese Theatre Company and WHAM.
In addition to acting, Isabelle is an accomplished musician, trained at the Shanghai Conservatory of music under Professor Sun Wen-Yan. She composed the original score and performed live on stage for “Farewell Lady Autumn” on the Gu Zheng Chinese Table Harp. She is also a passionate musical theatre performer with a vocal range of soprano, a background in Ballet and Chinese Kung Fu, combining artistry with agile physicality adding depth to every role while bridges culture with captivating authenticity.
Rosemary Johns (Paula Spiteri)
Raised as a child in South Wales, Rosemary’s theatrical travels have taken her via Manchester University Drama Dept, to the USA, gaining her Actors Equity card in Three Sisters (Missouri Repertory Theatre, director Cedric Messina) and Chorus in Medea (Erik Vos, Das Apfel Theatre, Netherlands). On arriving In Australia, she a became a playwright/performer with the iconic MRPG. Her passion is creating new Australian work both written and performed. Television work includes guest roles and commercials. In 2025 Rosemary appeared in Three Sisters (Theatre Works, director Greg Carroll), Nothing is Real (Festival of Surrealism, with the Lloyd Jones ensemble) and in Same But Different, (director Elnaz Sheshgelani, a La Mama touring show) and most recently in the acclaimed “Are You There” (director Rachel Baring, Explosives Factory, Theatreworks). Under the name R.Johns she is six times published playwright with Currency Press.
Jamie de Vu (Frank Rauter)
Jamie is a Melbourne based actor. He studied at Brave Studios, 16th Street Actors Studio, and completed part-time studies at TAFTA.
Most recently Jamie worked with Wolf Heidecker playing two characters in the critically acclaimed La Mama production of Farewell Lady Autumn by Melka Stansah. Before that he was in the play Vivid by Hoa Pham at Footscray Community Arts Centre. He again aims to showcase his exceptional talent and dedication to the craft.
Showreel VIVID by Hoa Pham: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLesL1QcPVU82JrSd5q_ld9qSLbsPO3P8b
Joshinder Kaur Chaggar (Josephine Molden)
Joshinder Chaggar is an award-winning dance theatre artist & filmmaker. She is currently in the final stages of a PhD doctorate, where her research intersects her intercultural identity with storytelling. Her solo dance work, created through the PhD, DANCING IN INFINITE WORLDS, won BEST IN DANCE & PHYSICAL THEATRE, at Melbourne Fringe 2024. She has worked in the dance and theatre industry for the past 18 years, across Melbourne & Pakistan, and has participated in festivals locally and internationally. She is the recipient of a collaborative GREEN ROOM AWARD (2022), ‘Best Cabaret’, for the ensemble work TAKEBACK!. Her directorial film debut – MORE THAN CUTE, a 15-minute short film that unpacks age won Best Doc at The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival 2022, in New York & screened widely at film festivals across the globe. She is currently in post-production for her feature documentary, CRONES. She is passionate about joy as resistance, creating community and sharing culture.
Joanne Armstrong (Valerie Millert).
Jo-Anne has performed in many shows across Melbourne most notably at La Mama Theatre where she has been part of the Lloyd Jones Ensemble for nearly 25 years. She has performed in two shows directed and produced by Wolf Heidecker, Muffins at the Death Cafe and Dive-the Musical. Jo-Anne also sings in a women’s choir called Pitchface with performances on Rockwiz at Hamer Hall and with Katie Noonan at The Recital Centre.
Victoria Teh (Mia Schellinger)
Vixey Teh is best known as Lily in the hit play "The Zipper" by Bernard Clancy, directed by Wolf Heidecker.
Her TV credits include "Neighbours" an "Officeworks" commercial, and a dramatized reenactment on "60 minutes".
She is in numerous shortfilms including the award winning "Daughter" (2016), written and directed by Sarah Jayne starring Katherine Langford from the popular Netflix series "13 Reasons Why".
Additionally, she is in several award-winning feature films including "The Last Supper of the Damned" (2016) "Mondo Yakuza" (2016) and "The Grand Scheme" (2019).
Vixey is delighted to be part of this play, advocating for a better environment for all, and truly believes solar panels will save the world.
David Lih (Julian Berndes)
David Lih's Film & TV credits have included the Cannes Film Festival nominated Strange Fits of Passion (ABC, Arena, Film Victoria, 1999) and popular TV series like Neighbours (Grundy TV, 2010) and Offspring (Southern Star, 2011). His stage credits have included numerous main roles in La Mama Theatre's productions of Beyond the Gates of Heavenly Peace (2001) and Zhang Da Li: The Village of Big Easters (2008). As a main cast member of Our Man in Beijing, David performed the role of Huang in its 2012 premiere, produced by the Australasian Chinese Theatre Company, and subsequently in a return season at La Mama Theatre (2013) as well as for its international tour at the Kuala Lumpur and Penang Performing Arts Centre (2014). David played the lead in the WHAM produced original play Defect as part of its premiere season in 2022.
A trained dancer at the Ministry of Dance in Melbourne, David has performed in many dance productions covering the hip-hop, contemporary and improvisation genre. He is currently represented by Phoenix Artist Management Melbourne.
Natulie Moffatt (Allanah Spencer - TV Producer and Stage Manager)
Natulie is a seasoned theatre enthusiast with a rich tapestry of experiences. She garnered awards as an actor, writer, director, and props master. She holds certified expertise in OHS, first aid, weapons and firearms for film, martial arts, bookkeeping, information management, IT, hospitality, construction, and music (winning the Grand Final round in 'Local Rockstar's Karaoke Competition').
Environmental Facts:
· Since the start of regular weather recordings in Australia in 1880, there has been the warmest phase on Earth at least from the turn of the century. Except for 1998, all the warmest years are in the new century. Strictly speaking, serious global warming started with the beginning of the second industrial revolution in the late 19thcentury, because since then the average global temperature has been rising steadily, which has been observed especially since the 1970s.
· There is a close correlation between the increase of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and global warming. Before the beginning of the industrialization, the global CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was only 280 parts per million air molecules. In 2000 it was already 368, in 2015 it was just over 400 parts per million air molecules, and today we are well above that. The last few decades were therefore de facto the warmest in the history of climate documentation. In addition, the last few decades have been incessantly warmer, with some years being among the warmest ever recorded.
· The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research names nine potential tipping elements about which there is no dissent among climate researchers worldwide.
They are:
Ø the Arctic Sea ice,
Ø the Greenland Ice Sheet,
Ø the West Antarctic Ice Sheet,
Ø the boreal forests, also known as the taiga,
Ø the Amazon rainforest,
Ø the El Niño and the Southern Oscillation,
Ø the Sahara/Sahel and West African monsoon,
Ø the Indian summer monsoon and
Ø the thermohaline Atlantic circulation.
· . If the upper limit of even one of these tipping elements is exceeded, there is a high probability that another element in the global climate system will be affected. Some tipping elements can set in motion a self-accelerating climate change that would then be irreversible. That is exactly what has happened. It is hard to say, but the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been proven to have tipped irreversibly. That means it will definitely disintegrate. It has also been proven that the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has been going on for decades, has a significant negative effect on the Indian summer monsoon. It has lost power because the ongoing melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet has already weakened and will continue to impair the Atlantic’s overturning movement called the Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation.
· The nearly twelve hundred islands of the Maldives are under increasingly acute threat because of rising sea levels. The Maldivian government today appealed to the rich countries to provide as much aid as possible for precautionary measures to limit the effects of climate change on the Maldivian islands. For many years, precautionary measures have cost the Maldives more than half of its budget. The Maldives now spends as much on measures against dam erosion as it does on education and health. Many islanders have already been resettled for years because of the anticipated OR expected rising sea levels. There are seventy islands in the Maldives struggling with contaminated water. Salt water is leaking into the drinking water system, and ever more islands are losing surface area due to erosion.
Resources:
Info: https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/animals/sumatran-tiger/
youtube forest sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRGAPMuGBFY
AI generator: bill’s voice: https://elevenlabs.io/
A big THANKYOU for their support goes to
Ø Janet Brown (Cultural Advice re Translation)
Ø Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, Carlton
Ø The Clyde Hotel, Cardigan Street, Carlton
Ø Dr. Shanshan Kou (Recordings)
Ø Gisela Bernhart (Hero Image)
Ø Wyndham Art Works
Photo Gallery
