The Climate crisis is also a crisis of the imagination. If we cannot imagine a more sustainable and just way of living we cannot achieve it. Artistic and cultural institutions can be powerhouses of change, helping to create and forge new ways of thinking and doing. Now is the time to meet the emergency with imagination.
Anthony Simpson-Pike
Creative Green
This year we are delighted to report that we were awarded 5 stars from Julie’s Bicycle Creative Green Assessment for our actions and efforts in making sustainable theatre.
Creative Green is a certification from Julie’s Bicycle which provides organisations with a systematic, achievable and inspiring approach to environmental sustainability. It celebrates environmental success and shines a light on areas for improvement, and gives your organisation a star rating from 1 to 5.
Read the full report click here: Gate Theatre Creative Green Report
We can imagine a better future, together.
We believe that theatre has the power to question and nurture a changing world, and to change the people who watch it. We ask ourselves and our audiences to think more about our responsibility to our world and environment. Our commitment to environmental sustainability, manifest in our Green Gate policy, is a central focus for us and our approach to making work as we endeavour to act as responsible global citizens. We encourage our audiences and artists to join us in this commitment.
You can download a copy of our policy by clicking Green Gate Policy.
Green Gate Highlights
2019 – Cultural Declares Emergency
The Gate Theatre, along with organisations and culture makers across the country declares a climate and ecological emergency committing to tell the truth about the scale of climate injustice and working towards bringing our own emissions down. Our Young Associates took part in the Letters to the Earth campaign in conjunction with Climate Declares Emergency. Maintained 4 our 5 stars for our commitment to Green Gate.
2018 – Artists Climate Lab (London Theatre Consortium)
Associate Director, Anthony Simpson-Pike co-facilitated a week long climate lab for artists sent by LTC theatres focussing on what it means to make work in the context of climate change. The lab encouraged the participants to imagine working more sustainably and activated them to work towards climate justice. Maintained 4 our 5 stars for our commitment to Green Gate.
2017 – Creative Climate Leadership: Slovenia (CCL)
Artistic Director, Ellen McDougall alongside 13 other participants took part in a course led by Julie’s Bicycle and Slovenian-based sustainable development and training NGO, PiNA. It explored approaches to organisational change, engaging people with new narratives and shifting values through art and design, encouraging behavioural change through communications and advocacy, and developing collaborative ways of working to maximise impact. Maintained 4 our 5 stars for our commitment to Green Gate.
2016
In 2016 we received 4 our 5 stars for our commitment to Green Gate. In 2016, total waste generation decreased by 66% compared to 2014/15 and 55% of all waste in 2015/16 was recycled.
2015
We continue to ensure that we work with local partners and suppliers and put Green Gate at the front of our agendas. We will continue to work with Production Managers to limit waste with each show and we will strive to communicate our Green credentials and agenda with our audiences. In the coming months we will switch our air handling unit to an environmentally friendly version.
2014
We made sure that Green Gate is always on the agenda, switching to green couriers and suppliers where possible, insulating office doors, and changing to a sustainable paper supplier for our printed playtexts.
2013
The Gate transferred dressing room and office lights to LEDs/energy efficient bulbs, switched energy suppliers after working with an energy audit company, installed water saving devices, recycled more props/sets, and reduced printing and monitored waste.