“How do we make sustainable Theatre?” was the question posed by Stefan Fischer-Fels, member of the ASSITEJ Executive Committee, at this morning’s Artistic Encounter. It really got us all thinking. How do we make Theatre that works to reduce levels of plastic and rubbish? How do we use Theatre to encourage sustainability for the whole family? How do we make it a philosophy that guides our production work?
Having divided into eight small groups, everyone set off discussing how we might create sustainable Theatre. Through guided discussion, this event quickly became a call to action focused on coming together to create long term thinking about sustainability in all aspects of Theatre for Young Audiences.
With the small groups then forming larger discussion circles, it was, of course, apparent that sustainability means using less. Using less material, reusing material, and recycling material. However, most importantly, it was acknowledged that we will only achieve sustainable practices if we think about who’s involved in such discussions and how they contribute to lessening wastage.
As such, this Artistic Encounter closed with some universal truths: in order to make our field sustainable, we must be conservative with our energy, recycle in every way necessary, make work that is tackling these global issues, and continue such conversations at future events.
