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Birmingham Hippodrome has launched a comprehensive new sustainability plan, marking a major milestone in its commitment to environmental responsibility and long-term resilience. Announced on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, the plan outlines ten core commitments and follows the venue’s aim to achieve the Preliminary standard of the Theatre Green Book (TGB)—an industry-wide benchmark for sustainable practice in buildings, operations and productions.
The plan reflects over a decade of environmental focus at the Hippodrome, which became the first UK theatre to receive the ISO 14001 certification for Environmental Management Systems back in 2010. Sustainability was formally integrated into the theatre’s company values in 2023, and now underpins its five-year (2023-2028) strategic vision, “Hippodrome Tomorrow”, a transformational city-facing initiative that embeds sustainable thinking into future development and cultural engagement.
The new sustainability plan covers key areas such as governance, creative programming, training and partnerships, with a clear intent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also commits the theatre to measuring the carbon impact of all in-house productions and festivals going forward. That approach was already piloted in 2024 with The Jingleclaw, the Hippodrome’s first in-house production, which adhered to TGB Basic standards. Over half of its materials were recycled or reused, and most are expected to see a second life in future productions.
Jon Gilchrist, Artistic Director and CEO, said the plan is a vital step toward “ensuring our venue can thrive for generations to come,” positioning the arts as an active player in the climate conversation. Meanwhile, Theatre Green Book director Lilli Geissendorfer praised the Hippodrome’s leadership in integrating sustainability into creative and operational processes.
She said: “We’re so happy that Birmingham Hippodrome are taking this important step and looking at ways to become more sustainable. They have already had a great start to their Theatre Green Book journey with The Jingleclaw meeting Basic Standard and I look forward to seeing how this new sustainability plan brings positive change.”
With ambitions to progress through the TGB’s higher tiers, the Hippodrome is setting a precedent not just for regional theatres, but for how the performing arts sector can address the climate crisis with concrete, transparent action.
Read more about Birmingham Hippodrome’s full sustainability plan here!
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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