Explore How The Arcola Theatre Aims to be Carbon-Neutral
Which of Shakespeare’s works did you study? The UK has left rich theatre legacies we could explore inside and outside the classroom. There are 241 theatres in London alone. Visiting larger traditional theatres in London made me curious about smaller contemporary theatres. The Arcola Theatre, founded in 2000, seemed the perfect place to explore. You would be surprised to hear that The Arcola Theatre aims to pioneer being a carbon-neutral theatre!
“We feel that it is not just a positive influence but a necessary one. However, we understand the slowness of theatre to move to sustainable options because of the expenses incurred,” says Becca, the Production Co-ordinator. The Arcola Theatre’s efforts to lead theatre carbon reduction focus on saving energy usage.
Approximately 258 square feet of solar panels generate up to 6 kilowatts of electricity. Excess electricity is fed into the national grid and provides additional income. Since 2012, these panels have saved over 8 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since 2012.
The 83 LED lights installed use 89% less electricity than conventional fluorescent lighting.
Moreover, the Arcola Theatre strives for sustainability in more local ways. 90% of the beer sold at the Arcola Bar comes within four miles, minimizing the carbon footprint from deliveries. Being located near a tube station, bus station, and residential area encourages the audience to use greener transportation. Over 90% of the audience, including myself, visit the theatre by public transport, biking, or walking.
“Did you go to the toilets?” asked Chiara, a co-founder of the art charity I am interning for. Chiara still frequently assists with staging The Mousetrap, and The Archola Theatre’s sustainability efforts have impressed her. “It’s amazing because their water system is very sustainable. The water used to wash your hands is circulated back to flush the toilets! They waste less water on flushing toilets.” Chiara continued sharing her observations: “Everything is made of wood as well if you noticed.” Fun fact, the theatre was built using over 10,000 reused bricks.
“Oh, the Arcola Theatre, it’s very famous! One of the best of bests,” Cristina, Chiara’s co-founder colleague, added. Her claim did not fail me because Gigi & Dar was exceptional—intense, immersive, and shockingly raw. The compact stage was interactive, and the innovative use of props helped utilize limited space. I saw another side of London’s theatre that larger traditional theatres could not convey!
Initially, the connection between theatre and sustainability may be implicit. Theatre does not mass-consume supplies like paintings or use chemicals like fireworks. In this way, the Arcola Theatre’s green efforts remind us to view sustainability from a creative perspective.
I 100% recommend visiting The Arcola Theatre!
“My favorite thing about working here is the range of theatre we have on offer, and how much the theatre cares about the people working within it!...There's always something interesting when you come here.” – Becca, The Arcola Theatre’s Production Co-ordinator
