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Building Sustainable Theatres

Two-hundred delegates attended The Theatres Trust Building Sustainable Theatres Conference held at the National's Cottesloe Theatre on 10 June.

The aim of the conference was to clarify what action is required towards securing the future of theatres in a zero-carbon world and to have taken the first of many steps towards achieving this aim.

The Keynote presentation was given by Sunand Prasad, president RIBA and senior partner, Penoyre & Prasad, who informed delegates that buildings contribute 5% of all emissions and that ‘no action is too small' towards reducing this situation.

Following an opening address by the minister for culture, the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, MP, in which she stated that theatres were well-placed to set an example, the conference was chaired by Nigel Hinds, performing arts manager and consultant.

Chairing the first session, ‘Perspectives' was John Vidal (environmental editor of The Guardian) and included panellists Richard Simmons (chief executive, CABE), John Graham (chief executive, Historic Scotland), Ruth Mackenzie OBE (expert adviser, DCMS) and Sunand Prasad. During this session the speakers reflected on the keynote presentation and provided architecture, historic and theatre perspectives on the impact of climate change for theatres. Ruth Simmonds informed conference that a Client Guide (BS8901) will soon be produced and again emphasised that "there is nothing too trivial to implement towards becoming sustainable!"

‘Directions' was the title of the next session, again chaired by John Vidal, which took the form of a question time looking at the influences on improving the sustainability of theatre buildings with key individuals leading theatre initiatives addressing climate change. Panellists were Peter Gingold (executive director, TippingPoint), Kirstin Warley (consultant professional support lawyer, Linklaters), Mark Watts (climate change adviser, Greening London's Theatres), Alistair McGowan (actor, impressionist and WWF ambassador), Dr Ben Todd (executive director, Arcola Theatre) and Gus Christie (executive chairman, Glyndebourne Productions Ltd).

Peter Gingold emphasised that "we are all environmentalists now" and that the creative side of work in theatres should not be distinguished from the technical side - "the theatre has a duty to lead". Kirstin Warley informed conference that legal requirements do not wait for the law. Mark Watts was chief advisor on climate change to former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. He led the development of the London Climate Change Action Plan, which set out how the city will achieve a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2025 and all matters relating to the C40 and its partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Greening London's Theatres initiative. Alistair McGowan, needing no introduction, slipped in the occasional impression but more importantly focused on his passion for the environment and desire for every theatre production in the UK to fulfil certain obligations in terms of their environmental impact. He stated that environmental policies need to be emphasised in the same way that Health and Safety policies are in the entertainments industry. Dr Ben Todd, as well as being executive director of Arcola Theatre, works as a technology broker for the Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Knowledge Transfer Network run by the UK Technology Strategy Board. (Look on www.arcolaenergy.com for Climate Change Action Plan). To end this session Gus Christie enthralled the audience with the story of his attempts to get planning permission for a wind turbine at Glyndebourne - no mean feat in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The first session in the afternoon was ‘Developments' and was chaired by Ruth Eastwood (chief executive, Leicester Theatre Trust) and took the form of an open discussion on planning and managing capital new build, refurbishment and listed theatre restorations for a zero-carbon 2019, introducing guidance from Arts Council England, CABE and ABTT, and the low carbon comfort work on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformation project. Panellists were Donna Munday (arts management consultant), Alan Short (principal, Short and Associates Architects), Alistair Fair (Buildings Conservation Group, Alan Baxter and Associates), Mark White, chairman, ABTT), Ian Smith (partner, Max Fordham), Stephen Jolly (group director, Building Services Design), Buro Happold, Peter Wilson (project director, RST Transformation) and Rab Bennetts OBE (co-founder, Bennetts Associates Architects).

Alan Short was principal investigator on the ‘Designing Dynamic Environments for the Performing Arts' research project and, with his practice has recently completed a new version of the Arts Council/CABE Guide to Capital Projects in the Arts. During his discussion with Ian Smith, Mark White skilfully waved a copy of the new ABTT guide Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment - now available in one publication. Stephen Jolly, Peter Wilson and Rab Bennetts spoke of their work in transforming the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The final session of the day, ‘Adaptations' was chaired by Ian Blackburn (project director, Southbank Centre). The aim of this session was to look at strategies, practical approaches and financing for climate change adaptations, introducing renewables and improving energy performance. Speakers included Kevin Faulkner (premises manager, Theatre Royal Plymouth), Natalie Lewis (environmental officer, Ambassador Theatre Group), David Richards (Buildings Group leader, London, Arup), John Langley (theatre manager, National Theatre), Lee Collins (deputy director, Theatr Brycheiniog), and Ben Robinson (director, Dulas Solar, Low Carbon Partnership).

Kevin Faulkner gave an entertaining, down-to-earth presentation, with ‘props' showing how he managed to reduce energy consumption in his theatre by organising an initial audit of energy used and how this could be reduced. He found that energy consumed during the show is for short periods only and, though this could be improved, was not the only area to be looked at. Natalie Lewis reiterated the importance in her work of using energy audits to aid venues to create individual energy management plans aiming to reduce overall carbon footprint. David Richards spoke of new government legislation requiring all new non-domestic buildings requirement to assess their energy efficiency and obtain ‘Energy Performance Certificates' and ways of achieving these certificates. John Langley spoke of the National Theatre's target of reducing consumption of gas and electricity by 20% by the end of 2008 and its participation in the Climate Change Action Plan for Theatre. Lee Collins then outlined his work at Theatr Brycheiniog, Wales' first solar-powered theatre. Ben Robinson ended the final session with information about The Low Carbon Partnership which provides 50% grants for Phase 2 of the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme for the installation of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics and small wind systems for public buildings or not-for-profit organisations.

The closing address was given by Peter Head (director, Planning and Integrated Urbanism, Arup) who reiterated that theatres are in a unique position to change things.

Detailed articles covering several of the projects discussed at the conference are included in the summert edition of ‘Theatres Magazine' (issue 16), the publication of The Theatres Trust.

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Building Sustainable Theatres

18th June 2008

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