Cat Stevens Celebrates 50 Years of ‘Where Do The Children Play?’ with Timely Adaptation

Chris Hopewell has directed the new video for Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ 2020 re-imagination of his 70’s classic ecological anthem, ‘Where Do The Children Play?’

50 years after its original release, ‘Where Do The Children Play?’ still depicts a chilling reality of modern man’s disregard for nature and its disastrous implications for our future on this precious planet, with Yusuf saying: “Looking at the world today and the message in this fifty-year-old song, it looks like the world never grew up.”

Created using mostly recycled materials and plastid debris, Chris’ video mirrors the environmental message of the song. “We decided to make the props and scenery from recycled materials wherever possible, to minimise the production impact on the environment. We did a beach clean in South Wales to gather plastic debris and used it to make the ocean you see in the video." says Chris.

He continues: "Our sea scenes were made from waste plastic washed up on our shores. All of the sets and practically all props were made from recycled repurposed and up-cycled materials. I’d say that 90% of what you see on screen was made from recycled materials, even the rostrum the sets are built on were recycled scaffolding planks and sets painted with paints from a local charity store. All materials used were then re-purposed or recycled when the video was finished. It was a slightly longer process than usual, but fun!”

'Where Do The Children Play?' stands today as a song whose warning against global mismanagement, scientific and economic recklessness, eerily prophetic the issues the world faces today. A timely reminder of this profound singer/songwriter’s enduring legacy and timeless influence.

'Tea for the Tillerman', a celebration and re-imagination of Cat Stevens’ seminal 1970 album, is set for release on 18th September on UMC. Click here to see more of Chris’ work.