Why should theatre be engaging with sustainability?
In almost every single one of my college auditions in the United States, the interview portion contained at least one question: “Why do you want to be a part of a dying artform?”. Now, why do they consider theatre a “dying artform”? Is it because it’s not quite as popular as it used to be? It’s an interesting question; might be a bit of a bummer in an audition, but there’s a compelling point involved. Why be a part of a mode of entertainment that is being slowly dismissed from greater society? An even bigger question is what part is theatre playing in its own death?
I believe we have a duty, as a theatrical community, to provide stories and emulate the reality of the world we are living in. We can’t hide behind frivolous portrayals of privilege and expect audiences to walk away feeling truly impacted. The stories we tell have meaning and purpose, and with that comes the opportunity to engage and educate on the current climate and ecological crisis. Theatre is a huge platform now for people, especially in the younger generation. The main reason theatre hasn’t been forgotten as an avenue of entertainment is because it is the only artform that provides a deeply personal and different experience each performance. Live theatre is not a set occurrence, it’s a constantly changing adventure that the performers and audience are sharing together. This provides a very clear opportunity. If a show has the ability to truly move people, to impact them in any way, it is crucial that it relays a message that is morally and politically aware.
I’m an American intern, right? So bear with me for a moment as I talk briefly about something that has to do with America. In New York City, there is a constant countdown called, “The Climate Clock”. This clock calculates the general approximation of how much time we as a society have left to remedy the climate crisis before we reach a point of no return. As of right now, the clock stands at approximately 7 years. Now, that image is incredibly daunting; to walk past and watch the seconds tick away. You think to yourself, “What could I have done in those three seconds to make any sort of change?” The point is those 7 years, and specifically in this case, what theatre can do in those 7 years to work against that clock.
There are dangers to making meaningless theatre, and in many cases, performative theatre. We’ve reached a point in the 21st century where investing in shallow storylines that center around privilege and ignorance can be harmful and damaging to our audiences. It is crucial that we employ this avenue of empathy to relay real-world issues and promote sustainability if we have an opportunity to do so, because our audiences now demand it. But it’s not just about relaying messages of sustainability, it’s also about creating a sustainable work environment. We are so used to seeing shows on Broadway or the West End; getting dressed up, going out to dinner, and packing into taxis that take us to the theater, but that indulgence in itself increases the theatre’s carbon footprint exponentially. Touring can be a more sustainable artform when it comes to travel. By bringing one group of actors to perform a show at several locations, instead of bringing thousands of people via many differing modes of transportation, a company can significantly reduce its carbon footprint. However, it’s important to note that in any case, people are still traveling to performances whether it’s in their own state or across the country. What’s most important is making sure it's as easy as possible for audiences to reduce their carbon footprint when attending the theatre. What theatre companies can do is instead of putting immense amounts of raw materials and energy into making new sets, props, and costume pieces, they can reuse pieces from past performances.
We have to think about what message we’re sending when we perform. If our shows are finally relaying messages of sustainability, equality, and awareness, then the stages we perform on and the clothes we wear need to mirror and emulate those messages and values as well. It is essential that audiences see the progress and change that they want to see outside of the theatre, in the shows they’re putting their money into, both in content and production. So again, we address the question: “Why be a part of a dying artform?”. Because it needs us. Theatre is a perennial source of human connection that we either have the opportunity to utilize or neglect. Performance has the ability to influence and inspire people, and with that comes the responsibility to reflect truth on stage. The “truth”, is that time is not stopping; since the time I started writing this blog, the Climate Clock in New York has continued to decrease in value, and the climate crisis is still on the road to the point of no return. With these 7 years still left on the clock, we need to assess what we can do as a theatre community to advocate climate consciousness to our audiences, both on and off the stage.
Sophie Friedman (2022)