Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre awarded ‘Advanced’ sustainability rating for Sleeping Beauty
Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit leisure trust that manages the Gatehouse Theatre on behalf of Stafford Borough Council and show producer Imagine Theatre are proud to announce that the hit pantomime Sleeping Beauty has been officially awarded ‘Advanced’ level status by the ‘Theatre Green Book’.
This prestigious industry award recognises productions that significantly reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Achieving an ‘Advanced’ rating is a major milestone for a production of this scale, proving that high-glitz family entertainment can be delivered with low carbon emissions.
The rating reflects Imagine Theatre’s long-term commitment to carbon neutrality, a journey they began in 2022. The ‘Advanced’ level was reached through a combination of strategic planning and conscious craftsmanship including:
Careful set Design: Extensive reuse of existing scenery, props and costumes.
Logistical Efficiency: Consolidated transport routes to reduce carbon emissions during the set build and take down.
Sustainable Sourcing: Careful decision-making across the production to prioritise low-impact materials.
The achievement was a collaborative success between the production company and Freedom Leisure’s Gatehouse Theatre team. While the magic happened on stage, the venue implemented vital behind-the-scenes changes, such as:
Eliminating single-use plastics throughout the theatre.
Providing water refill points for cast and crew.
Switching to sustainable alternatives including the use of glass milk bottles.
Gary Stevens, Freedom Leisure’s General Manager at the Gatehouse Theatre, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Imagine Theatre to achieve this Advanced rating. It shows that with small, practical actions from the use of glass bottles to energy efficient transport, it all makes a massive difference. Sustainability is now at the heart of our operations and we are excited to carry these practices forward into Aladdin [next seasons’ panto] and beyond."
Angela Brown, Head of Sustainability and Environmental at Freedom Leisure, said: “Seeing a large-scale pantomime achieve Advanced level of the Theatre Green Book is a powerful example of how sustainability can be delivered in practice.
"It reflects a conscious approach to reducing environmental impact through thoughtful decision-making at every stage of the production and within the venue itself.
"This production demonstrates that environmental responsibility can be built into every stage of operations and reflects the wider approach we take across Freedom Leisure, embedding sustainable thinking into everything we do and supporting partners who share this commitment.”
Imagine Theatre added that the result reinforces their ongoing commitment to reducing emissions and embedding sustainable practices into the day-to-day life of theatre production, ensuring that the magic of pantomime lasts for generations to come.
The Theatre Green Book is an initiative by the theatre industry to help venues and productions move towards a sustainable future, offering a common standard for measuring environmental impact across three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
