2021

Rare Earth Mettle

Written by Al Smith

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director
Vicky Featherstone

Dates Performed

Wednesday 10th November 2021
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Form

Beyond-linear narrative Ensemble piece Original full length in English Over 8 cast Satire

Play Details

Synopsis

A brilliant white saltpan crunches underfoot, an uninterrupted flatness stretching to the horizon.

Henry Finn, CEO of Edison Motors, arrives on the Bolivian salt flats with dreams of revolutionizing the electric car industry. His quest for lithium pits him against Anna Carter, a British doctor with her own agenda, and Nayra Quispe, a savvy indigenous politician. As they vie for control of the valuable resource, Kimsa Apaza, a local living on the salt with his sick daughter Alejandra, becomes an unexpected key player in their high-stakes game of global politics and personal ambition.

Al Smith’s sprawling drama spans continents and ideologies, weaving together themes of colonialism, environmental exploitation, and the ethics of progress. The play’s non-linear structure jumps between Bolivia, Silicon Valley, and London, creating a kaleidoscopic view of the global impact of technological advancement. Sharp dialogue and biting satire expose the moral complexities of “green” capitalism, while poignant moments with Kimsa and Alejandra ground the story in human terms. As the characters’ machinations collide, “Rare Earth Mettle” asks provocative questions about the true cost of innovation and the power dynamics that shape our future.