Take a closer look at the props and discover how the team achieved a brilliant Theatre Green Book score for the first two shows in our Festival season, The Government Inspector and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Each prop, however big or small, is carefully chosen or created to fit the period and the designer’s concept for the show. As we embrace the Theatre Green Book to reduce the environmental impact of our productions, we’re relying on our prop store and encouraging designers and prop supervisors to work with the treasure trove of amazing items we already have. Our prop store houses an incredible array of items that have been collected from different productions over the years.

Towards the beginning of the process, our Prop Store Co-ordinator Katie will take the prop supervisor working on the show, and sometimes the designer, to visit our prop store and rummage through our bumper collection.

Across the industry, other theatres are also following the Green Book guidance, so our prop store is becoming pretty popular. Visit the webpage to get in touch or find out more. Read on to learn more about the props in the first two productions this season and how the Theatre Green Book is changing the ways we source and make props for shows.

The Government Inspector

Over 60% of the props were reused or made from reused or recycled materials. Lots of the props came from our store, including the snuff boxes, three manacles and a bag full of loaves of bread – can you remember spotting them in action?

Many directors request props to use in rehearsals, which often means two props are bought or made: a stand-in for rehearsals, and a final design for the performances, which could have a significant environmental impact. So, we’re trying to make the most of what we already have in our store as much as possible, at least for the rehearsal stand-in props.

The Theatre Green book isn’t just about where the materials used in a show come from. It is also important that we think about their future use and keep as much as we can to be reused or repurposed, for our own shows or across the industry. The intricate houses are being kept for future use, and the floor is going on to be used in one of the Future Theatre Makers performances in The Nest.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

When building the set and props for this show, the prop and scenic workshop Illusion Design & Construct embraced Green Book principles. The materials used to make the barrels were reclaimed from a real brewery and from other productions, including Clueless The Musical, Sam Fender and the Brit Awards!

We recently welcomed our two prop makers, Beck and AJ, who are embracing the Theatre Green Book and finding innovative ways of making props with more sustainable materials. The placards and stationary cupboard insert for the phone box were all made using recycled timber and materials we already had. Did you recognise the telephone box from one of our past productions?

It’s been a great green start to our Festival season! Thank you to our brilliant staff team, suppliers and freelancers who are dedicating extra time, energy and exciting creative ideas to join us on our Theatre Green Book journey.