Environmental Activist Among Headliners for Theatres Trust Conference 22

Headline speakers and full programme details have been announced for the Theatres Trust's Conference 22: Theatres Fit for the Future on 11 October at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Conference 22 focuses on creating a lively, engaging and dynamic gathering of professionals to collectively envision a more viable, sustainable, and inclusive future for the UK's theatres, and the people who visit and work in them.

The keynote session will be led by Rob Hopkins, activist, writer and co-founder of the Transition movement, a radically hopeful and community-driven approach to creating societies independent of fossil fuel. Rob will talk about how the power of theatre specifically, and our imaginations more generally, can create the future we want. He will signal how working collectively at the grassroots and across the country, we can meet the challenges of our planetary emergencies, and not just survive but thrive.

A stellar panel of artistic and creative directors including Julie Ellen (Macrobert Arts Centre), Robert Hastie (Sheffield Theatres), Low Kee Hong (The Factory) and Rachel O'Riordan (Lyric Hammersmith), with chair Hannah-Azieb Pool (Bernie Grant Arts Centre) will reflect on the day's themes of resilience, inclusion, sustainability and placemaking.

Across the day, there will be sessions focusing on how theatres are adapting their buildings and their business models, how theatres can be truly inclusive places and on theatres' role in placemaking and Levelling Up. Building on last year's conference and the Theatre Green Book, there will also be a session looking at how theatres can go even further on improving the sustainability of their buildings and productions.

The conference programme features a wide range of theatres and venues, alongside architects, practitioners, sustainability experts and theatre consultants with panellists representing organisations including property developers Argent; Future City; The Albany, London; Brixton House; The Embassy, Skegness; Komedia, Bath / Brighton; The Lowry, Salford; The Sage Gateshead; Theatre Royal Plymouth and Worcester Performing Arts Centre.

The 2022 event aims to shake things up a bit and more actively involve everyone attending (panellists, speakers and delegates) in helping to imagine what theatres fit for the future might look and feel like.

Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust Director, says, We are absolutely delighted to have Rob Hopkins opening Conference 22, setting the tone for what will be a positive, energetic day. Theatres Fit for the Future will bring the theatre sector together, to not just talk about the problems we face, but collectively find solutions.

Conference 22: Theatres Fit for the Future is made possible thanks to the generous support of its sponsors and partners: Platinum Sponsor Bristow Consulting, Gold and Bursary Sponsor Trafalgar Theatres, Gold and Lanyard Sponsor Unusual, Gold Sponsors Charcoalblue, Plann and Theatreplan, Silver Sponsors EM Acoustics, Harlequin, Haworth Tompkins, LW Theatres, Point One Epos, Stage Electrics, Theatre Projects and Triple E, Bronze Sponsors 3LR, Bennetts Associates and Yesplan, Bursary Sponsors Avison Young, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres and Trafalgar Theatres and Technical Sponsor White Light Ltd. Conference partners include ABTT, Community Leisure UK, Creu Cymru,

Federation of Scottish Theatre, ITC, Society of London Theatre, Theatre and Dance NI and UK Theatre, and Media Partners Lighting and Sound International and The Stage.

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