Theatre Green Book PRODUCTIONS Toolkit – Touring and Co-production

General principles for all Touring Productions

• Consider how to reduce material requirements and volumes for touring so as to minimise the numbers of vehicles required and weight of material to be moved. Flat-packing items reduces the numbers of vehicles needed.

• Rather than tour everything the production needs, research which items could be supplied or hired at the next venue. For example, rigs may already be available at receiving venues.

• In preparing for a tour, reduce or eliminate packaging for transportation, with any unavoidable packaging reusable, biodegradable or recyclable.

• Move away from the use of carbon or diesel vehicles. This will become easier as the UK 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars rapidly influences develop of alternatives and a more accessible electric vehicle network.

• Support cast, crew and staff to access productions using rail and public transport, budgeting for time and cost of tickets as necessary.

• Discuss Green Book standards and minimum requirements with receiving venues. Encourage venues to adopt similar practices and share local knowledge that may support the production to be recreated sustainably. This might include details of in-house systems and floors (saving transportation of bespoke rigs and set pieces), local suppliers and makers who can locally rebuilding of simple objects and local transport networks, electric charging infrastructure and similar.

• Networks of touring venues and consortia can improve sustainability by working together. This includes sharing freight, storage and sharing knowledge and contacts to help deliver shows sustainably.

• Remaking shows in new locations, with local sourcing can be a powerful way to reduce carbon footprints and contribute to local economies on tour. Designers should provide clear instructions for set pieces and lighting systems where local crews will need to build them. Flexibility should be embedded: consider use of commonly available materials, set pieces, or be open to variety in dimensions and objects based on local availability.

• Collaborate with touring consortiums to find resources and teams in different locations – including sets, crew, performers and venues. For smaller productions, co-operating with other arts companies to share touring schedules and combine transport can improve flexibility and reduce delivery requirements when booking sites, festivals and venues.

• Where possible, design lighting rigs based on the smallest equipment list of the receiving houses to avoid hiring & touring unnecessary kit

• Coordinate with the final destination for a tour regarding the dismantling/recycling of a set, rather than assuming it needs to be brought back home.