Defining Sustainable Theater: AIS, Tanghalang Ateneo partner in systems thinking workshop for eco-conscious theater production

Held last 9 October, the Climate and Disaster Resilience (CDR) Program of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS) and Tanghalang Ateneo (TA) came together for an Eco-Conscious Production Workshop held at Ateneo de Manila University. The workshop offered an interactive learning experience that guided TA members in exploring how sustainability approaches, tools, and strategies can be meaningfully integrated into theater production and practice.

Led by Mr Daniel C Ratilla, Program Head for CDR and one of the authors of the Sustainable Eco Theatre (SET) Packet, the workshop, taking from the SET Packet, introduced systems thinking as a framework for understanding the interconnectedness of theater and sustainability. This approach guided participants in exploring how sustainability can inform creative collaboration and encourage innovative approaches to production and design.

Mr Ratilla also discussed life cycle analysis, another key concept of the SET Packet, which examines all the energy and waste involved throughout the different stages of a product’s lifespan, from raw material extraction to processing, transport, use, and disposal. He emphasized the importance of being mindful of the hidden energy and waste costs behind even “sustainable” or “green” products, such as the greenhouse gas emissions generated by recycling processes, or the embodied emissions from different parts of the production process. He encouraged participants to consider the delicate balance between durability and reusability in making environmentally responsible production choices.

These concepts guided the workshop’s group activities, which included issue mapping, life cycle analysis, and evaluating current practices, all of which were designed to help participants identify key issues, assess evolving trends, and understand interconnections within production processes.

Production members of the student-led organization attended the event, motivated by the goal of using theater as a platform for sustainable ecological change. 

The AIS Eco-Conscious Production Workshop represents a meaningful first step toward bridging environmental education and the performing arts, and also offers a direct opportunity for organizations such as TA to provide inputs for future revisions of the SET Packet. It also demonstrates how creativity and collaboration can advance sustainability both onstage and offstage.