Sustainable thinking should never be a restriction in our practice but an opportunity and a starting point for eco-creative conversations. In this winter newsletter, APDGreen shares links and information about what is happening in the enviro- sphere for both stage and screen peeps, with a focus on materials. After 2 years of planning, the Society of British Theatre Designers [SDTD] has launched a Sustainable Materials Guide to aid designers in choosing a range of more sustainable or regenerative materials in their work. SCENOLAB is talking to Jacqui Geroge, the convenor of World Stage Design 2025. Arts on Tour and Sustainable Screens Australia recently launched new webinars and training opportunities that promote environmental awareness and encourage designers, producers and makers to focus on reducing their carbon emissions on creative projects.

THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH THEATRE DESIGNERS LAUNCH A SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS GUIDE BOOK

 Details of the event are HERE. 

Thursday, July 24th.  2 – 3:30am AEST 

The launch is happening early in the morning for those of us working in Australia, but some night owls may want to attend. Put together by volunteer members in the SBTD, this is a visual guide that reviews various materials for their environmental credentials and potential uses on stage. Sustainability is framed as a possibility not a constraint on creative ambition. The guide touches on subjects including how we stage materials, the history and meaning of materials in relation to their sustainability, procurement, safety, and what happens to materials after their use in theatre. Hamish Muir (editor) is making the guide available to Aussies on request.

GREEN GUIDES FOR THEATRE MAKERS

While looking at material resource available to design thinking, Sustainable Theatres Australia (STA) has increased their introductory Green Guides resources to include material inventories; Find out more here: STA Resources  Each of the STA guides target a different stage or department in the production process and are full of tips, provocations and frameworks to encourage thinking around reducing a project’s environmental footprint. The guides are ever-growing and the STA’s team work hard to collect and consolidate industry-relevant knowledge so they remain easily accessible. They have compiled lists of nationwide eco-friendly suppliers, sustainable disposal sites and sustainable material options on their website.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCREEN DESIGNERS

The Australian film industry is uniquely placed to take a leadership role in promoting solutions to the climate crisis in our production practices. Sustainable Screens Australia [SSA] regularly offers FREE carbon calculation and Sustainability on Set training webinars to give designers and directors practical strategies for incorporating sustainable thinking across their different genres of work. Check HERE for new dates and workshops. 

SSA has also created an online hub for best practice checklists and toolkits, with industry specific carbon literacy training based on albert (UK) and a vendor/services database. Check out their FREE resources and training opportunities HERE.

SCENOLAB AUSTRALIA HOLDING TALK ABOUT WORLD STAGE DESIGN 2025

In the lead up to World Stage Design 2025, ScenoLab Australia is holding several virtual talks focused on this global celebration of performance design, architecture and technology.

In this first talk, meet the WSD’25 Project Director Jacqui George. Hear how WSD’25 has been created in response to several overarching themes, including environmental sustainability, and learn more about engaging with the program from Australia.

Date and Time: Thursday 26th June.  2-3pm

Register for the free talk  HERE

FREE ONLINE SESSIONS: GREENING PRODUCTION-MAKING 

in 2025 AOT partnered with Theatre Green Book Australia (TGBA) to present four, free 60-minute online sessions that focused on greening production-making every Monday from 24 March – 14 April. The aim of the series is to develop eco literacy skills and support directors, creatives and production departments to integrate emissions reduction strategies into their practices and allow for eco-informed decisions. The series featured guests along the way who are using the TGBA, to give specific examples of how it can be applied to production-making. The Greening Production-Making Online Series can be found HERE.

The first session covers sustainable material choices for set, costume, and prop design, including recycled, biodegradable, and ethically-sourced procurement alternatives. Guest speakers (including APDG member Imogen Ross)  discuss low-impact making techniques, such as modular construction, non-toxic finishes, and designing for reuse. Throughout the series, practical examples and resources are shared as downloadable ‘cheat sheets’ as well as strategies for integrating circular economy principles into theatre production.

GREAT IDEAS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE….

You know that post-production feeling when you have worked for months and then suddenly it is all over? You need to make room for new projects, but what to do with all the stuff?

SHIFTIT  is a community-powered marketplace for the performing arts sector for exchanging props, scenography, costumes, materials, technical equipment and instruments in Nordic countries. It was launched in 2023 and is trialling digital lending libraries of sets, costumes and props. Check it out and get inspired. Could we do something similar here?

At SHIFTIT you can do two things:

• Search for buy and collect items you need for your next production
• Register, list, sell or give-way items you no longer need

The first session covers sustainable material choices for set, costume, and prop design, including recycled, biodegradable, and ethically-sourced procurement alternatives. Guest speakers (including APDG member Imogen Ross)  discuss low-impact making techniques, such as modular construction, non-toxic finishes, and designing for reuse. Throughout the series, practical examples and resources are shared as downloadable ‘cheat sheets’ as well as strategies for integrating circular economy principles into theatre production.

THERE IS ALWAYS SO MUCH MORE TO THE GREEN CONVERSATION…

If you are interested in adding your professional design voice and suggestions to an APDG Sustainability Protocols group or promoting green initiatives in future Green Conversations, please send an email to green@apdg.org.au to offer assistance, suggest topics of research and point us towards APDG members who are doing great things in the field of sustainable design.