A look at how we can be more environmentally sustainable from the moment we start making theatre, from The Theatre Green Book team.
Over the last several years the UK theatre sector has been moving towards more environmentally sustainable practices. As the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis increases, it is more important than ever that we ensure the way we make theatre is as green as possible. The Theatre Green Book is a grassroots initiative that aims to do this, by setting common standards for sustainable theatre across all areas of theatre practice: Productions, Operations, and Buildings. Originally launched in 2021, the Theatre Green Book published a second volume in July 2024 and includes a range of tools to support the UK theatre sector to reach net zero by 2030.
As the next generation of theatre makers, it is vital that students and young people bring their energy, passion, and climate-consciousness with them into the sector, whether that is through work made while still in education, or through self-owned production companies, or when entering employment in large-scale companies. This applies to all theatre practitioners, whether on or off stage: everyone has a part to play.
Green Captains
"Young people are the future of this industry and our planet, their involvement is vital at every level to bring a greener future." – The Green Captains
The Green Captains were formed in 2021 in response to the Theatre Green Book. Originally a group of students from various drama schools, the Green Captains are now extending into industry and apprenticeships as well as schools and colleges. The Green Captains exist to empower students and young professionals to explore and develop more sustainable ways of working, providing a support network to inspire and innovate. They are working to embed the Theatre Green Book into education and professional practice. You can find out more and get involved via the Theatre Green Book Resources page.
Theatre Green Book
Employers within the theatre sector are increasingly expecting employees and freelancers to think about their work in sustainable terms, with many starting to add it into job descriptions. The Theatre Green Book hosted an Education Conference in June 2024, which covered areas from employer expectations to great work already being done in drama schools. You can watch clips from the conference on the Theatre Green Book Education page.
You don’t have to wait until leaving school or graduating to be able to start your green theatre journey. There are lots of useful resources online, and you can familiarize yourself with the Theatre Green Book website. To get started, you can watch the Introduction Video, and have a look through the Theatre Green Book and the Production Calculator. You can sign up to the Theatre Green Book website, and see what elements of the guidance might be relevant to you. If you make productions as part of a course or are a recently-graduated company making work on the fringe, you can speak with your team about signing up to the Theatre Green Book as an organisation, and start working towards the Theatre Green Book standards for your production.
Laura Sedgwick - Theatre Green Book Producer
Added: 29.08.2024
Photo credit Manuel Harlan: The Children at Nottingham Playhouse which received Theatre Green Book Basic Level status
