The Stage

Julie’s Bicycle plots a path to sustainability

Published Tuesday 29 June 2010 at 17:28 by Natalie Woolman

Green arts organisation Julie’s Bicycle has set up a UK-wide programme to help theatres become more environmentally sustainable.

The programme will work with both commercial and subsidised venues and consortia to change their systems and procedures.

Julie’s Bicycle, which launched its report on the environmental impact of British touring theatre last month, has not set a target for the programme at present.

Theatre associate director at the company Sian Alexander said it had the national target in mind - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2025 - but that individual theatres and consortia may choose to decide their own targets.

The steering committee, which will act as a sounding board for Julie’s Bicycle on the project, includes National Theatre executive director Nick Starr, joint chief executive of Ambassador Theatre Group Rosemary Squire and Nicholas Allott, managing director for Cameron Mackintosh, among other high profile names.

Alexander said at the first meeting of the committee, representatives from Really Useful Group, Cameron Mackintosh and ATG all agreed to measure their greenhouse gas emissions in their West End venues.

Alexander explained that measuring emissions was key to the Industry Green framework Julie’s Bicycle has established for reducing emissions.

Explaining the IG framework, she said: “The first step is to commit to the issue and engage your organisation in it. The second is to understand what your impacts are, that can be anything from measuring your energy use to knowing about your audience, above all you need to understand how your building works.

“The third thing that we then ask everyone to do is to take action to reduce impact, and you can only really begin to do that when you have worked out what your impact is. That’s why the first step is to understand it and get a handle on it.”

She added that the final step in the IG framework is for venues to communicate their emissions and progress with one another in order to share best practice.

For more information on Julie’s Bicycle and the programme visit www.juliesbicycle.com.