Conference 21: Making Theatre Sustainable Programme

Conference 21: Making Theatre Sustainable explores how we can make every aspect of the theatre sector more sustainable, from our productions to our buildings and how we run them.   

8:45am Registration
Tea, coffee and pastries

9:15 Welcome Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust (Main Theatre)

Plenary: Green Renewal - Introducing the Theatre Green Book
The Theatre Green Book is a chance to reset how we work as a sector. How has the sector collaborated to create this important new resource and how can it help us all work more sustainably?

Speakers include: Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive, National Theatre; Paddy Dillon, Interim Chair of the Theatres Trust, architect and Co-ordinator of the Theatre Green Book; Melly Still, Director; Neil Darlison, Director of Theatre, Arts Council England; Andrew Wylie, Partner, Buro Happold

Chair: Jon Morgan

10:25 - 10:50 Coffee Break 

10:50 – 11:50 Breakout sessions
Choose one to attend on the day - no need to book 

Breakout 1: Green Buildings (Main Theatre)
No two theatre buildings are the same and all are at different stages of the sustainability journey. How are different theatres of different ages and typologies addressing sustainability and how can the Theatre Green Book provide a structured approach to help prioritise action?

Speakers include: Vanessa Lefrancois, Joint Director & CEO and Richard Willoughby, Building Manager, Oxford Playhouse; Steve Mannix, Executive Director and Nik Frampton, Head of Facilities, Mercury Theatre; Janthi Mills-Ward, Executive Director and Oli Brown, Head of Production and Technical, Hull Truck; Peter Wright, Artistic Director, Romiley Little Theatre

Chair: Claire Appleby, Architecture Adviser, Theatres Trust

Breakout 2: Green Productions (Studio Theatre)
How can the Theatre Green Book support theatre makers maximise the opportunities for making productions more sustainable? How can everyone across the whole production process make a difference?

Speakers include: Meg Magill, Producer, Tinderbox Theatre Company; Graham Sutherland, Head of Production, Citizens Theatre; Gemma Swallow, Technical Director and Jen McGinley, Designer, National Theatre of Scotland, and theatre designers Rajha Shakiry and Vicki Mortimer

Chair: Paul Handley, Production and Technical Director, National Theatre

12:00 - 1:00 Plenary: Going for Green (Main Theatre)
A presentation of research into how the UK’s theatre buildings are currently performing around sustainability, exploring both the potential for carbon improvements in theatres and what it would cost for all our theatres to ‘go green’.

Speakers include: Laia Carpena, Associate Technician, Buro Happold; Mike Cook, Director, Avison Young; Paul Davis, Director, AECOM; Paddy Dillon, Interim Chair of the Theatres Trust, architect and Co-ordinator of the Theatre Green Book; Nav Kang, Managing Director, Bristow

Chair: Chris Dumas, Principal, Avison Young

1:00 - 2:00 Lunch 

2:00 – 2.45 Plenary: Less is More: Should we build and buy less? (Main Theatre)
We need to build less and buy less. What does that mean for theatres? How much can we reduce our need to build and buy while still making sure we have theatres that meet audience needs and support a dynamic and fast-moving art-form?

Speakers include: Andy Hayles, Managing Partner, Charcoalblue; Katy Marks, Director, Citizens Design Bureau; Steve Tompkins, Director, Haworth Tompkins

Chair: Sara Edmonds, Director, Studio seARCH

2:55 – 3:45 Breakouts
Choose one to attend on the day - no need to book

Breakout 3: Historic & Green (Main Theatre)
What are the opportunities and challenges for making our historic theatres sustainable? How much can and should we do to our historic theatres and how do we balance conservation and sustainability?

Speakers include: Simon Erridge, Director, Bennetts Associates; Caroline Hanson, Theatre Buildings Manager, Delfont Mackintosh; Laura Mansel-Thomas, Partner, Ingleton Wood; David Wilmore, Historic Theatre Consultant, Theatresearch Ltd 

Chair: Katie Town, Executive Director, Wakefield Theatre Royal

Breakout 4: Green Operations (Studio Theatre)
Theatres manage multiple, complex operations involving a wide range of staff, contractors, audiences and participants. From bars and catering, through to backstage and ancillary spaces, marketing and communications, travel and beyond, how can the Theatre Green Book help us make these activities greener?

Speakers include: Mark Hollington, Hospitality Director, HQ Theatres; Darren Joyce, Managing Director, Cardiff Theatrical Services; Claire Murray, Head of Development and Marketing, Lyric Theatre Belfast; Richard Speir, Producer, Arcola 

Chair: Feimatta Conteh, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Manchester International Festival

3:45 – 4:10 Coffee Break

4:10 – 5:00 Plenary: Leading the Way (Main Theatre)
What is the role of theatre in wider climate action and how can we work together regionally, nationally and internationally so that theatre is a beacon of best practice?

Speakers include: Molly Braverman, Director, Broadway Green Alliance; Lucy Davies, Executive Director, Royal Court Theatre, Dave Moutrey, Director and Chief Executive, HOME and Director of Culture for Manchester City Council; Alison Tickell, Founder and CEO, Julie’s Bicycle; Heidi Wiley, Executive Director, European Theatre Convention 

Chair: Paddy Dillon, Interim Chair of the Theatres Trust, architect and Co-ordinator of the Theatre Green Book

5:00 – 7:00 Drinks reception (Reuben Foundation Wing Foyer)

All attendees are invited to stay for networking drinks and canapes

Conference 21: Making Theatre Sustainable.