Turning it sustainable: implementing sustainability goals in theatre productions at NTNU

Abstract

This article proposes ways of implementing sustainability goals in theatre productions to create interesting creative expressions. It is a case study that examines the work done by the author in the first-year bachelor course on “Theatre Production” in 2021-2023, to turn the course sustainable by addressing UN Sustainable Development Goal no. 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production”. In the article, I describe the course’s design and curatorial choices, and the tools used to identify and implement sustainable goals. I discuss the impact of integrating the 4R principles (Reuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Recycle) and the Climate Policy and Action Plans in the creative process. I then argue that the qualities of the sustainable process – the counting and the measuring – impact the artistic choices in unexpected ways. Cover image: From the performance “People and their enemies” (2021). Photo: Elena Perez