A SUSTAINABILITY milestone has been reached in Southend as two major theatres have achieved Theatre Green Book certification.
Southend Theatres, which include the Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace Theatre, have been awarded the Theatre Green Book Basic Standard for Operations and Buildings.
The accreditation is part of an industry‑wide scheme helping performing arts venues operate more sustainably, with Trafalgar Entertainment becoming a founding supporter last year.
The group launched three pilot sites in 2025 — Southend Theatres, Churchill Theatre in Bromley and G Live in Guildford — which have now all demonstrated best practice across energy management, waste reduction and operational sustainability.
Helen Enright, CEO of Trafalgar Theatres and chair of the organisation’s sustainability steering group, said the work reflects a growing commitment to reducing environmental impact.
She said: “As a global organisation, we recognise our responsibility to lead by example, promoting a more sustainable future across all areas of our theatre, entertainment, and venue operations.
"We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and environmental impacts across energy, water, waste, and materials, and to encourage our partners to do the same.
"And as we continue to bring incredible stories to our stages, we want to ensure that we’re doing just as much to protect the world outside our stage doors.
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"Whether it's the energy we use to light our shows, or the way we manage our historic buildings, we have a big role to play in the future of our planet."
Southend’s venues created a Green Team to support the work, focusing heavily on energy usage over the winter season.
Their efforts led to saving more than 50,000KWh of gas in just two months — the equivalent of 9.15 tonnes of CO2e.
Nick Parr, venue director of Southend Theatres, said the team will continue seeking new ways to improve their sustainability work.
He added: "The team remain committed to developing new ideas and aspire to higher levels of Theatre Green Book accreditation."
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