This case study was originally published as part of the Environmental Sustainability Review 2023/24 - read the Review
Penny Chivas is a freelance dance artist who has been based in Glasgow since 2010.
Originally from Ngunnawal Country, Australia and the daughter of an environmental geochemist, Penny has been aware of the crisis for much of her life. Burnt Out is her testament to Thunberg’s House of Fire.
A solo dance theatre work centred around our changing climate, particularly the devastating Australian Black Summer of 2019/20, Burnt Out weaves spoken word and movement as we are taken on a journey past bushfires, through their ignition and devastation, and left with space to ponder how we got here.
The Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance supported Penny to undertake an ambitious and considered tour of Scotland focusing on community engagement. A full-scale artistic production was taken to mid-scale venues and a slow-touring version was designed for village halls/community centres with wrap around activities.
Penny worked with independent producer and sustainability planner Katy Dye to embed a low-carbon model into the tour. An environment and sustainability policy outlined Penny’s commitment to making the production and tour as sustainable as possible.
All levels of delivery from creative development to rehearsals, performances, venue selection, partnerships, touring, marketing, and administration were informed by advice from The Theatre Green Book, Equity’s Green New Deal, Julie’s Bicycle and Creative Carbon Scotland.
Katy provided advice and support throughout the tour and on its completion carried out an evaluation with content that reaches beyond that currently required of Creative Scotland’s project evaluation. Shaped by contributions from the whole creative team the evaluation measured the success and lessons learnt from touring small scale performances across Scotland.
Data and feedback on the impact of the use of public transport, technical/production decisions, sustainability of venues and partnering organisations, marketing and being green on tour were reflected upon and will shape future project delivery and touring.
Burnt Out by Penny Chivas was funded through Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance in Autumn 2023.
We spoke to Penny to find out more about her work - watch the video:
Header image credit: Brian Hartley