Press Contact: Megan Stone
22 April 2024
Today, to mark the 54th anniversary of Earth Day, Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) has joined a global community of arts and culture champions in declaring a climate and ecological emergency.
Culture Declares emerged in April 2019 as the first declaration movement within the professional sphere, drawing inspiration from local authorities’ declarations of emergencies. It has since grown into a collective of more than a thousand organisations and individuals within the arts and culture domain. TRP stands in solidarity with them by proudly declaring a climate and ecological emergency.
The declaration is a public commitment to its ongoing promise to platform, prioritise and take action on the climate emergency in all areas of the organisation, which is integral to its core values of creativity, quality, collaboration and diversity.
TRP joins Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth and organisations such as The National Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, Bristol Old Vic, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the Royal Court and 1710 individuals and organisations that have declared a climate and ecological emergency across the UK arts and culture sector.
Alongside declaring a climate emergency, TRP has also signed the Oil Sponsorship Free pledge which assures it does not take any oil, coal, or gas corporate sponsorship and encourages institutional partners to refuse fossil fuel funding too.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the global average temperature in January 2024 was 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels for the month, confirming the year-long warming of 1.52°C above the 19th century benchmark which is higher than the critical threshold world leaders set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. In Devon and Cornwall, practical effects of this are being seen with flood and weather warnings becoming increasingly common.
TRP hopes to influence a culture shift that is needed to turn the tide on the climate emergency and encourage fellow arts and culture organisations to also release similar commitments.
The announcement coincides with TRP’s Global Climate Cafe and Creative Writing for the Climate Workshop with Climate Action Plymouth and Plymouth Laureate of Words, Rosemarie Corlett, a series of community events encouraging the local community to connect and creatively express feelings of eco-anxiety and climate grief.
TRP has also released a virtual declaration, an announcement from Chief Executive and Executive Producer, James Mackenzie-Blackman and Artist for Change, Natasha Pavey followed by a series of conversations with Associate Directors; John Haidar, Malaika Kegode, Sara Rhodes and Tom Jackson Greaves in which they discuss what’s next for TRP and the Climate Emergency as the Artists for Change finish their year long positions and the first season of work curated entirely by the newly appointed TRP creative leadership team begins.
James said: “The climate emergency is incredibly important to TRP and is intrinsically linked to our core values, and as the largest and best attended regional producing theatre in the UK, we value transparency with our audiences.
“We hope this commitment is a step forward in our climate action journey and that those who know and love TRP will join us in celebrating this commitment and, in turn, holding us all accountable.”
Natasha said: “I’m so proud that TRP has made this public commitment, saying loud and clear that the climate emergency is a priority here. As a young creative this feels so incredibly important and something we can no longer avoid if want a future where we can continue to make and enjoy theatre. I hope other arts organisations in the Southwest and beyond can do the same and I’m excited to see what’s next for TRP on their climate action journey.”
By declaring a climate emergency, TRP pledges to align with Plymouth City Council’s pledge to make Plymouth carbon neutral by 2030, continue to make, champion and create space for creative work in Theatre Royal Plymouth’s buildings that cultivates community and action around the climate emergency, diversity and inclusion and include the climate emergency, inclusion and diversity in TRP’s creative strategy and business plan.
TRP will also work with inhouse catering teams and our catering suppliers to integrate plant-based options and plastic free packaging, continue to conserve energy through dark nights and acquire green energy through solar panels and actively promote environmentally friendly travel options to staff and visitors.
Finally, TRP will increase the use of paperless tickets and digital and online marketing and ensure all staff are aware of and continue their relationship with a green pension scheme.