Theatres Trust is sharing £124,000 of grants from their Theatres Improvement Scheme across a further seven theatres.
Supporting bespoke environmental sustainability work at each venue, each theatre is able to respond to the climate crisis in a way appropriate to its own operations:
- Leeds Grand Theatre: work at this Grade II* listed theatre will see water consumption reduce by half.
- New Diorama Theatre, London: installation of LED lighting and newly created storage and workshop facilitating the reuse of materials; the spaces themselves will be built with up to 90% re-homed wood and fittings.
- The Garage, Norwich will receive funding towards solar panels and LEDs, reducing lighting energy by up to 80% at this converted coachworks.
- Old Fire Station, Oxford: upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting, including updating the lighting rig and the equipment used for external events at this multi-use building.
- Ann Lanntair, Stornoway: installation of solar panels on the roof and storage batteries in the basement of this multi-arts venue.
- Cast, Doncaster: starting a phased solar energy and battery storage project reducing grid usage.
- Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle: a Grade I listed theatre where a range of projects will save thousands of tonnes of carbon annually.
Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan said, “we are delighted to support seven more theatres in their bids to be more sustainable, with the projects funded demonstrating the range of ways that theatres can make a difference. This grants scheme, along with our ongoing work on the Theatre Green Book, is part of our overall mission to make theatres more sustainable.”
The Theatres Improvement Scheme is oversubscribed, receiving more applications for this round of funding than any other funding programme. The scheme is offered in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation.
The next round of grants up to £20,000 under the Theatre Improvement Scheme is open for applications for sustainability projects. The deadline for applications is 5 September.