From Street Performing to Climate Comedy

Stuart began his creative journey as a street performer right in Covent Garden more than 20 years ago. Now, he’s a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe and has carved a niche as a “climate comedian”, turning complex and often bleak environmental realities into moments of levity and connection. He’s unafraid to share his own hypocrisies, whether it’s driving to a gig in a diesel car or confessing that he once tried tumble-drying his pyjamas just to make them warm before bed.

What stood out in our conversation was his nuanced understanding of how people engage with climate change. Rather than scaring or scolding, he wants to meet audiences where they are and gently “bump them forward” from complacent to concerned, from alarmed to active. As he puts it, “You can’t tell people not to be scared unless they’re scared.”

The Hidden World of Phoenix Garden

Tucked away behind Shaftesbury Avenue, Phoenix Garden is the kind of place that makes you exhale the moment you step through the gate. Birds call, bees hum, and flowers bloom in an unexpected riot of colour and calm. It’s hard to believe you’re a stone’s throw from some of London’s busiest streets.

Louise shared the garden’s rich 41-year history, its dedicated team of volunteers, and the challenges it now faces, including a proposed hotel development that could block out half its sunlight. That’s no small threat in a space where light sustains everything from tomato plants to dragonflies.

We learned about the garden’s role as a community hub, particularly for those who might be isolated, new to the city, or without green space of their own. From pond-building to plant swapping, from corporate volunteering days to monthly newsletters packed with activities, Phoenix Garden is a shining example of how green space is also social space.

Birdsong, Binoculars, and a Climate Confession or Two

Throughout our visit, the garden filled with the soundtrack of rustling leaves and excited birdwatching. Emily’s sister, visiting from the Netherlands (and an equally obsessive twitcher), helped us spot blackbirds, baby robins, wrens, and even a goldfinch, all in a single tree.

We also shared “climate confessions” a favourite bit of Stuart’s routine. From international flights to obsessive battery recycling, the stories reminded us that climate action isn’t about being perfect. As Louise put it, “We’ve all got our grubby little eco-sins. You just have to keep going.”

The Climate Actions We Don’t Call Climate Actions

One of the themes that kept emerging was how much positive environmental action goes unnamed. Community gardening, litter picking, using WhatsApp to organise a recycling drive, even just planting a tree, these are all meaningful contributions to a greener, healthier, wilder London. But they don’t always feel like “climate work.”

As Stuart said, “Climate has a branding problem. It feels like homework.” But what if we reframed our everyday actions as part of a broader movement?

How You Can Help

Phoenix Garden is one of the last community gardens in the West End. It needs support—not just to thrive, but to survive. Here’s how you can help:

• Visit the garden and spread the word. It’s open seven days a week until dusk.
  
• Volunteer – whether you’re a gardener, an artist, a spreadsheet whiz, or just someone who likes to water things.
  
• Donate to support ongoing work like pond restoration and planting.
  
• Follow and share via @thephoenixgarden and www.thephoenixgarden.org
• Support the campaign to protect the garden from overshadowing development. This is one of London’s lungs—we can’t afford to lose it.

   

Final Thoughts: Let’s Keep It Messy

As our conversation wound down, one thing stuck with us: the beauty of imperfection. Gardens grow wild. Climate action is rarely tidy. We’re all hypocrites, learning as we go. And that’s okay.

Because what matters most is that we keep showing up, whether that’s with a watering can, a pair of binoculars, or a stand-up routine that helps people laugh and feel a little less doomed.

So next time you’re in Covent Garden, duck behind the crowds and step into Phoenix Garden. Take a deep breath. Spot a robin. And remember: even in the middle of the city, nature and community are still very much alive.

Stuart Goldsmith

Stuart’s comedy is about the climate crisis – how we can all do more to alleviate our dread and combat our inertia. You’d think it would make you feel worse, but it leaves you feeling impatient and full of energy!​​ See Stuart live

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