Read the Theatre Green Book: sustainable productions

Created during lockdown and building on the work of Julie’s Bicycle, SiPA and others, the Theatre Green Book has brought theatre-makers together with sustainability experts Buro Happold. It sets common standards for sustainable theatre, developed by theatre-makers for theatre-makers, to make theatre sustainably.

The Theatre Green Book will have three volumes: Sustainable Productions, Sustainable Buildings and Sustainable Operations. Sustainable Productions, which is now available to read, has already been adopted by the National Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, and National Theatre Wales, with leading companies like the Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera, – as well as smaller companies like Tinderbox and many others – committing support and phasing in Green Book working.

Theatre-makers can download Sustainable Productions here. Designed to work alongside JB’s Creative Green and other programmes, the Green Book is a partnership, co-ordinated by theatre architect Paddy Dillon, that unites all theatre’s lead bodies: the Theatres Trust, ABTT, UK Theatre, SOLT, ITC, Creu Cymru, Federation of Scottish Theatres, Theatre and Dance NI, and Community Leisure UK.

“We have to seize this moment, and the Theatre Green Book is a brilliant resource for the whole sector. The National Theatre is continuing to make its work as sustainable as possible by committing to adopting the baseline principles of the Theatre Green Book for all productions over the next 12 months.”

– Lisa Burger, Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre.

Image is courtesy of HOME, Manchester.