Conference 22 programme
The conference will focus on creating a lively, engaging, dynamic gathering of professionals to collectively imagine a more viable, sustainable, and inclusive future for our theatres.
Here are details of the sessions and speakers.
9:45 Registration opens
Tea, coffee and pastries
10:30 Introduction
Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan introduces Conference 22 themes and housekeeping.
10:40 Theatres Fit for the Future: Keynote
How the power of theatre specifically, and our imaginations more generally, to create the future we want. 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.
Speaker: Rob Hopkins, activist, writer and co-founder of the Transition movement
11:15 Tea & coffee break
11:35 Morning parallel session 1: The Business of Theatres
What are some new and emerging strategies to make theatres more resilient in uncertain times? How are theatres adapting their buildings and their business models to ensure they thrive in the future?
Speakers include: Richard Daws, Komedia, Bath / Brighton; Richard Hughes, Awen Cultural Trust, Wales; David Hutchinson, Selladoor Worldwide; Gary Johnson and Oluwatoyin Odunsi, Brixton House, London.
Chair: Annabel Turpin, ARC Stockton Arts Centre
11:35 Morning parallel session 2: Theatres for Everyone
How do we make our theatres truly inclusive places to work and visit? What does this mean for how we design or adapt our buildings and for our organisational cultures, practices and decision making?
Speakers include: Dan Daw, Dan Daw Creative; Emily Jones, Sage Gateshead; James Mackenzie-Blackman, Theatre Royal Plymouth; Keith Saha, 20 Stories High, Liverpool.
Chair: Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp
12:45 Capital lightning round 1
A high speed overview of some current theatre projects supporting resilience, inclusion, sustainability or placemaking.
Speakers include: Roisin Feeny and Amaarah Roze, Sounds Like Chaos on Climate Home at The Albany, London; Eimear Hanratty, O'Donnell + Tuomey on Sadlers Wells East, London; Klara Svoboda, Bennetts Associates on Hertford Theatre; Pollyanne Trapmore-Shaw, The Embassy, Skegness.
Chair: Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust
1:10 Rapid reporting
Journalists Jo Caird and Maddy Costa will report back what they have taken away from the morning parallel sessions.
1:20 Lunch sponsored by J&C Joel
2:20 Afternoon parallel session 1: Theatres in Placemaking
How are the places we live and work changing and how can theatres contribute to placemaking and levelling up?
Speakers include: Mark Davy, FutureCity; Patrick J O’Reilly, Tinderbox Theatre Company, Belfast; Dan Winder, Stanley Arts, Croydon
Chair: Vicki Dela Amedume, The Albany
2:20 Afternoon parallel session 2: Greening Theatres
How is the Theatre Green Book working in practice and how can we go even further in improving the sustainability of our buildings and our productions?
Speakers include: Claudine Blamey, Argent LLP; Roberta Mock, Royal Holloway, University of London; Mathew Smethurst-Evans, Theatreplan; Tony Smith, The Lowry, Salford
Chair: Judith Knight
3:20 Tea & coffee break
3:40 Capital lightning round 2
A high speed overview of some current theatre projects supporting resilience, inclusion, sustainability or placemaking.
Speakers include: Kris Bryce, Pitlochry Festival Theatre Steven Coulson, Holmes Miller Architects on Paisley Town Hall; Tim FitzHigham, St George’s Guildhall, King's Lynn; Jack Tilbury, Plann on The Yard, London
Chair: Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust
4:05 Rapid reporting
Journalists Theo Bosanquet and Jo Caird will report back what they have taken away from the afternoon parallel sessions.
4:15 Theatres Fit for the Future: Artistic Directors
What does theatres fit for the future mean to the artists who run them? How can they become more resilient, inclusive, sustainable spaces, sitting at the heart of healthy, vibrant communities?
Speakers: Julie Ellen, Macrobert Arts Centre; Robert Hastie, Sheffield Theatres; Low Kee Hong, The Factory; Rachel O’Riordan, Lyric Hammersmith
Chair: Hannah-Azieb Pool, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, London