The world's future is at stake. Every day we hear about rising sea-levels, changing climates and the destruction of civilisation as we know it.

Now theatre company Suspect Culture is exposing what might actually be going on when the world meets to discuss such problems.

Futurology is a black comedy set in a world conference hosted in the troubled dictatorship of Bauxite City.

Writer David Greig and Dan Rebellato came up with the idea for the show, which premiered in Glasgow last month, more than four years ago.

"Our starting point was the way world politics worked," says David. "That brought us to the idea of a conference, like Kyoto or G8, being put into a cabaret setting.

"Party politics is about presenting your rational thought, and cabaret is about presenting your appeal outwards as one actor to the audience. Both are hoping for the audience's appreciation."

With climate change as the hot universal political issue at the moment, it made sense to make the conference about that topic.

"It's not a show to change anybody's mind," says David.

"We assume that the audience know about global warming.

"We examine what happens when governments get together and have to work in political ways, the way they debate motions and go over clauses and paragraphs."

There is an underlying feeling of the world crashing down around the conference's ears, while they carry on their petty arguments about protocol and listen to "controversial" speeches.

"When you open the papers it says: A conference says we are all going to die in 30 or 50 years time'," says David. "But you turn the page and read Jordan seen at a party'.

"Which of these things is unreal? You think nobody else is panicking. Am I right to be scared or appalled?"

The conference world which Suspect Culture presents is one in which everybody is referred to by country, and where the Protocol makes random announcements over the PA system.

Our guide into this world is a newcomer to conference politics, Patrice, of the low-lying Sandwich Islands.

For her, this conference is about life or death, whereas some of her fellow badge-wearers have other motives, such as getting their end away with one of the other dishy delegates.

We see the grinding boredom of the two-day meeting, as politicians draft resolutions which could affect the future of the world, as well as some illicit activity behind closed hotel doors.

The show combines comedy with song and dance, physical theatre and multi-media. From the minute you pick up your delegate's pack, you are firmly in Suspect Culture's world.

  • Starts 8pm, tickets from £15. Call 01273 709709.
  • Don't miss the review of Futurology in The Guide Daily on Monday and online at theargus.co.uk/festival