[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#5aa31a” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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With thanks to attendees of the <\/span>National Rural Touring Forum<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> 2025 Conference who workshopped this toolkit.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”15px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \n Rural Touring is a key and vibrant part of the UK theatre sector. By nature it is often already working quite sustainably, with the small scale lending itself to low resource use and low carbon footprints, as well as more localised audiences requiring shorter distances of audience travel. Rural venues have often done fantastic work upgrading their buildings to be as energy efficient as possible. However, there are some things you can bear in mind when planning a rural tour, or acting as a receiving venue. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px||||false|false” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”5px” border_color_all=”#8CC63E” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.theatregreenbook.nl\/further-resources\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Simplified Production Calculator” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”43px” button_bg_color=”#8CC63E” button_border_width=”4px” button_border_radius=”12px” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”17px|14px||14px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For workshops, R&D processes and small-scale productions you may find it useful to use the Simplified Production Calculator to track your production. If you are doing a larger scale production, or one planned to sit down in a venue for a while it is recommended that you use the regular <\/span>Production Calculator<\/span>.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=”ideas” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n Theatre company, Smoking Apples have been trialling sustainability training for the rural touring sector. For more information or to get in touch about booking training click here<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|7px||5px|false|false” custom_padding=”3px|13px||8px|false|false” border_radii=”on|7px|7px|7px|7px” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#8CC63E” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are some particular challenges which face the rural touring sector when it comes to environmental sustainability:<\/span><\/p>\n For a carbon comparison with theatre touring see the <\/span>Take Art Case Study: Going Green<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Good example of a rider for schemes or presenters:<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”realisation” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n As theatre-makers can you consider the idea of concept touring? Concept touring is where the ideas and\/or script travel but perhaps not the people or set, props and costume.<\/span><\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t have to be \u2018full\u2019 concept touring but are there any elements of the production which don\u2019t have the travel but can be generated locally? This could be anything from set and costume to the performers themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n For further information on concept touring, and a report on it from 2022, see<\/span> LIFT Festival\u2019s website<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Whilst rural touring has its specific opportunities and challenges you may find some of the general touring toolkits useful:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”sourcing” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It can be challenging to think about how to talk to audiences about plays or seasons with sustainability themes. Can you consider the language: nature-aware, climate-conscious, conservation etc? Is there a local angle, and can theatre help communities to engage with intimidating or scary themes (eg, local coastal erosion)?<\/p>\n How can you use and play with the idea of \u2018bringing the outside in\u2019? How can you use your position to feedback and be in dialogue with playwrights and theatre-makers?<\/span><\/p>\n Can you also use your position in your community to engage with local politicians and councillors to stress culture\u2019s role in both human and planet wellbeing? Can you make local eco-partnerships with other venues, companies, community groups, local interest groups etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you need or want to collect data on audience travel, can you do this as a one-off snapshot to avoid the time taken to do it for every show? You can use audience postcode data to make estimates.<\/span><\/p>\n Or could you find a fun way to gather survey data, with a coin drop vote or a map people locate themselves on. Give people a reason to engage with data collection: \u201cLook after what you love\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Communicate your successes: climate-related work can be frustrating and troubling. How can you and your team share your successes with your partners and audience in a positive, proactive way?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>See <\/span>Live & Local<\/span><\/a><\/span> and <\/span>Highlights Rural Touring Scheme<\/span><\/a><\/span> for a good example of how rural touring schemes can help rural touring be more sustainable.<\/span><\/p>\n Their examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n Highlights have also chosen to use Investors in the Environment Accreditation (achieving silver level accreditation).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#8CC63E” custom_margin=”|||4px|false|false” custom_padding=”5px|11px|9px|11px|false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n There are many examples of brilliant case studies relating to rural or small-scale touring. Please find some examples below:<\/span><\/p>\n Smoking Apples – Kinder<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Live & Local Interview with Mumbo Jumbo\u2019s Oliver Carpenter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Stories in the Dust<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nRural Touring<\/b><\/h1>\n
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Challenges<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Green Riders<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Producers and Companies<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Venues, Programmers, and Promoters<\/b><\/h3>\n
If you have control over your own building, see Theatre Green Book <\/span>Operations<\/span> <\/a>and <\/span>Buildings<\/a><\/span> sections for some suggestions of how to make your venue more sustainable. The Operations Tracker and Building Survey Tool are easy-to-use tools to plan what changes you might be able to make even with limited funds, as well as guidance on larger capital projects.<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Lots of venues have already done work to upgrade and adapt their buildings. Some brilliant case studies can be found on the <\/span>Highlights website<\/a><\/span>, including:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Schemes and Promoters<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Case Studies<\/b><\/h3>\n