Theatre Green Book PRODUCTIONS Toolkit – Designing and Making
Reuse and Recycling
Reuse and Recycling within Theatre
• Theatre and performance already has a strong hire & reuse model for technical and other equipment, as well as for costumes and some props.
• Sets and scenery are more challenging, because every set is bespoke, and set design involves Intellectual Property rights.
• The following generic set components should always be reclaimed and reused:
– Floors
– Flats
– Generic architectural components such as generic doors, windows, stairs.
Resources for Reuse and Recycling within Theatre
Some materials and components can be reused and recycled within theatre:
• Theatre stores are an obvious resource.
• Networks of theatre-makers (production managers, set builders, store managers, costume supervisors etc) have a wealth of expertise about productions and materials being used across towns and cities, and may be able to set up connections between shows.
• Theatre and performance already has a strong hire model for technical and other equipment, and a developing infrastructure of organisations for reuse and recycling, that include:
Scenery Salvage Prophire, Buckinghamshire
Set-A-Side Storage Recycling, UK
Inventory Tools
Open Workshop Facility
Art Dept Prop Houses Noticeboard Facebook
Open Reuse and Recycling
However, it is hard to establish effective reuse and recycling if networks are limited to a small industry like theatre. In addition, the aim for materials should be not only for a single reuse, but to have a number of lives:
• A piece of set might get reused as it is.
• It might be modified & reduced in size.
• It might be modified again by a smaller company, or someone outside theatre.
• It might be broken into constituent good-sized, good-quality materials and reused for something completely different.
• Eventually, it might be so battered and small that the only use for it is to be chipped – but it will have had a long, useful life first.
Wider reuse and recycling resources include:
• Online materials sharing – networks like Freecycle, GumTree, local Facebook groups etc
• Second-hand shops and antique fairs stock and take a wide range of materials
• Donated materials available through local charities, schools and events networks
The following may also give useful information:
Children’s S.C.R.A.P. Project – any non-hazardous materials that can be used in art and craft
Polythene Recycling
Polythene UK have launched a polythene compacting and recycling service.
Making for Reuse and Recycling
• Reuse and Recycling are much easier if everything on a stage is designed and made in such a way that it can be easily disassembled for reuse