The Theatres Trust Announces First Twelve 'Ecovenue' Participants

LONDON, May 12, 2010 - The Theatres Trust announces the first twelve venues participating in its
European Regional Development Fund backed environmental sustainability
project, Ecovenue.

Ecovenue aims to make a real difference to the environmental performance
of 48 London theatres, leading the way in promoting the reduction of carbon
emissions.

Successful venues in the first round are The Albany Theatre (Deptford),
the Bush Theatre (Shepherd's Bush) Chisenhale Dance Space (Bow), the Compass
Theatre (Ickenham), Drill Hall (Bloomsbury), the Duchess Theatre
(Westminster), the Finborough Theatre (West Brompton), the Kenneth More
Theatre (Ilford), the Little Angel Theatre (Islington), the Polka Theatre
(Wimbledon), Southwark Playhouse (Southwark) and Tara Studio (Wandsworth).

These 12 venues are the first of four groups of theatres to receive free
theatre-specific, environmental business support from The Theatres Trust
through its specially designed Ecovenue project.

Tim Atkinson, The Theatres Trust's Theatre Building Services Adviser
delivering the project said, "These first twelve venues represent the unique
diversity of London's performing arts venues. They are all enthusiastically
committed to the challenge of improving their environmental sustainability
and sharing their results with the public and the theatre sector."

Venues will each receive a free energy assessment and a Display Energy
Certificate which will tell the public how much energy they use. They will be
helped to create and develop Environmental Policies, and receive specialist
assistance in monitoring energy, water use, waste diversion and procurement.

Their reductions in carbon emissions will help to deliver the Mayor of
London's Green Theatre Plan. This aims to help theatres achieve reductions in
emissions by 60% from 1990 levels by 2025.

Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust said, "Through Ecovenue we
now have a real opportunity to help theatres manage their resources more
sustainably. It's fantastic that we have the first twelve venues signed up
and I look forward to working with many more throughout the project."

Ecovenue is delivered by The Theatres Trust, the National Advisory Public
Body for Theatres and will run until 2012.

Ecovenue continues to be open to applications from all venues/venue
managements not currently in receipt of more than EUR500,000 in aid from
public bodies, with no more than EUR43m on their balance sheets, and less
than 250 full-time employees.

Application forms can be obtained by emailing
Tim.Atkinson@theatrestrust.org.uk or by post:
Ecovenue Theatre Building Services Adviser, The Theatres Trust, 22
Charing Cross Road, LONDON, WC2H 0QL

Notes for Editors

1. European Regional Development Fund: London European Regional
Development Fund 2007 to 2013: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
is used to tackle regional disparities across Europe. The ERDF supports
regional development through actions such as business innovation and support
and regeneration. Working on behalf of the Mayor of London, the European
Programmes Management Unit (EPMU) at the London Development Agency (LDA) is
responsible for the administration of the 2007 to 2013 ERDF programme.

2. The Theatres Trust: The Theatres Trust is the National Advisory Public
Body for Theatres. The Trust aims to protect theatres on behalf of the
nation. It advises in planning, regeneration and development, architecture
and design, heritage, and theatre. It enables better planning to secure,
improve and achieve sustainability for new and existing theatre buildings and
to protect theatre use. Its aim is to ensure that current and future
generations have access to good quality theatres that reflect our rich
cultural heritage and offer inspiring new environments in which to enjoy
theatre. www.theatrestrust.org.uk

3. Ecovenue: Ecovenue's environmental assessments, Display Energy
Certificates and environmental policies are being delivered by Tim Atkinson,
the Trust's Theatre Building Services Adviser. Dissemination Events for the
project will be held throughout the project. The first two events will be on
the 16 and 17 June 2010 at the ABTT Theatre Show at the Royal Horticultural
Halls, London.

Further information on Ecovenue and The Theatres Trust can be obtained
from its website www.theatrestrust.org.uk

Note to Editors:

Pictures accompanying this release are available through the PA
Photowire. They can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net
or viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

For images and details contact Kate Carmichael, Tel: +44(0)20-7836-8591, Email: kate.carmichael at theatrestrust.org.uk