A new play centered on the overlooked impacts of wildfires on society, “Hidden Strawberries,” by Ali Namayandeh, is debuting Oct. 16 to 19 at 7 p.m. at Stanford Live Bing Studio. The play integrates scientific research on the toxicity of California wildfire smoke with their social and health impacts, particularly on the labor force, leveraging the power of community engagement and theater. The play is inspired by interviews with California farmworkers, who are disproportionately affected by the state's worsening wildfires. It delves into the broad impacts of California wildfires, intersecting with issues of migration, environmental degradation, and personal identity, all seen through the eyes of Valentina, a young woman from Mexico. The story follows Valentina as she embarks on a search for her missing brother, Rodrigo, who disappeared while trying to cross the U.S. border.

The project is supported by Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Stanford Arts through the Burt McMurtry Arts Initiatives Fund.

For more information, contact Lana Tleimat.