PRINCIPLES
End-of-show PLanning
The materials we use in live performance - from costumes and props, to sets and production equipment - often fail to find a second life, causing unnecessary waste. But with some simple steps, we can contribute to lowering costs for future productions through better management of materials.
Keep track of your stuff
Who doesn’t love a good materials inventory?
Create a document of all your materials in pre-production so that you can keep track of where they are being used, and where they will be disposed of or recycled, including details like transport. You can use this handy Materials Inventory Template, that we adapted from The Theatre Green Book UK.
targets acquired
Final destinations
As a team, agree on some material usage and consumption goals for your production.
Goals can be reductions focussed (i.e. ‘reduce by 50%’ or ‘reduce by x kilograms’), but also need to be easily measurable. For things that are trickier to measure, like carbon emissions, water, or energy, consider an action-based goal (i.e. ‘We will all take public transport to and from rehearsals’ or ‘We will only use second-hand costumes’) rather than a strict reduction target.
We recommend splitting goals into areas and categories - i.e. producing, design, stage management etc. Divvy out the goals so that no one head of department is responsible for an unfair amount.
Reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle
Using your materials inventory, pre-plan where everything on your inventory is going once the run is over.
Start to categorise the next life for your materials.
Review your list - is there ‘waste’ that could be re-categorised with planning?
Remember to consider the potential ongoing life of the show. If you plan on touring, will your sets and costumes be properly stored?
Buying brand new and recycling should be a last resort.
Focus as much as possible on disposal locations that embody a circular economy ethos, rather than places that break things down and destroy or recycle the raw materials.
Resource Recovery or Reuse Centres often sell items back to new consumers. They are also great places to source raw materials from.
Ensure items are taken to their specific donation or disposal sites. These include e-waste, mattresses, sporting equipment, batteries, and hazardous substances.
See our Production Disposal Directory for a list of nationwide disposal sites by state, along with their contact details.