NTCH Sustainable Theater Conference × STAGES Forum Opened today

Public Invited to Join Sustainable Theater Efforts Through Dual Carbon Reduction Initiative in Response to Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Now in its third year, NTCH’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory initiative, launched in 2023, has continued to drive facility and operational improvements. This year, NTCH introduced the Dual Carbon Reduction Initiative, featuring two key projects: Green Theater Transportation Action, a partnership with iPASS aimed at reducing audience travel emissions, and Green Starlight Initiative, which promotes e-ticket adoption to cut down on paper waste. The public is encouraged to take part in these efforts to help create a more sustainable theater industry.

Since 2021, NTCH has incorporated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its operations and remains committed to realizing its sustainability goals. In 2023, NTCH completed the organizational greenhouse gas inventory verification under ISO14064-1:2018, to become the first theater in Taiwan to be certified by SGS. This year, NTCH developed targeted reduction strategies focused on two major sources of carbon emissions: printed promotional materials and transportation. In addition to upgrading its infrastructure and operational systems, NTCH launched the Dual Carbon Reduction Initiative this year to actively engage audiences in efforts to reduce emissions.

The OPENTIX Green Starlight Initiative, launched on January 1 via OPENTIX, encourages the public to opt for e-tickets over printed tickets. Each e-ticket reduces carbon emissions by 5.2 grams compared to a paper ticket. E-ticket users receive reward points and are eligible to enter a quarterly prize draw for a chance to win an iPhone 16. To further raise awareness, NTCH has installed data display panels in the National Theater and Concert Hall lobbies. NTCH hopes that by visualizing actual usage ratios, audiences will become more aware of choosing e-tickets instead of paper tickets.

The Green Theater Mobility Action encourages audiences to use low-emission forms of transportation when visiting the theater, as part of a commitment to sustainable living. In collaboration with iPass, NTCH has launched a special campaign from April 14 to December 28 during which theatergoers who travel to NTCH by MRT, bus, or YouBike and tap their iPASS cards at designated checkpoints in any of the four venues will be eligible for a prize drawing. Prizes include OPENTIX points and iPass Green Points which can be used toward public transportation and household payments, including utility bills, parking fees, and credit card bills. After redemption, Green Points can be converted to equivalent stored value in iPASS MONEY. (For full campaign details, please visit the iPASS website: https://www.i-pass.com.tw/Page/GreenPoints.)

Audiences who share their participation in the initiative on the NTCH’s social media platforms will also be entered into a prize draw. (See the NTCH facebook at [https://www.facebook.com/ntch.tw/?locale=zh_TW] for details.)  

Additionally, on April 14, NTCH adjusted its parking policy, reducing the discounted parking period for same-day ticket holders from six hours to four hours. With each green journey, NTCH hopes to make the theater a space where sustainability can be practiced, and to inspire more people to take part.

This year’s NTCH Sustainable Theater Conference × STAGES Forum was themed "Borderless Sustainability." NTCH General & Artistic Director Liu Yi-ruu stated:

"By integrating the NTCH Sustainable Theater Conference with STAGES’ first forum in Asia, we hoped to transcend geographical boundaries and serve as a bridge connecting Europe, Asia, and the global theater community in advancing contemporary sustainable theater. Through this conference, we shared the outcomes of four years of collaboration and venue experience with a wider audience, bringing together many small but meaningful efforts to build an impactful wave of sustainability."

Since joining STAGES in 2022, the National Theater & Concert Hall (NTCH) has been the alliance’s sole Asian member venue, working alongside 14 member countries to promote sustainability. The alliance holds regular meetings to exchange insights on venue operations and production strategies. This year’s forum featured representatives from four STAGES member countries: Théâtre de Liège (Belgium), Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne (Switzerland), Piccolo Teatro di Milano (Italy), and NTCH (Taiwan). Additionally, ARKO Arts Theater (South Korea), and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Singapore) were invited to participate. Through direct exchange and collaboration, the forum aimed to deepen understanding of global sustainability trends and strengthen international partnerships.

In addition to sharing practical implementations from four years of the STAGES project,  STAGES project coordinator Emmanuelle Lejeune also discussed the theoretical foundation and application of Doughnut Economics within the project. She referenced works by French choreographer Jérôme Bel and British theater director Katie Mitchell as case studies to help reimagine the future of sustainable theater.

The NTCH Sustainable Theater Conference × STAGES Forum focused on three key themes, bringing together theater and festival representatives from six countries to share their sustainability experiences under different cultural and operational contexts.

The first session, “Sustainable Impact: How Cultural Venues Influence Society and the Environment,” featured speakers Geum-Shil Hwang, Administrative Manager of ARKO Arts Theater in South Korea; Serge Rangoni, Treasurer of the European Theatre Convention and Artistic Director and General Manager of Théâtre de Liège in Belgium; and Janette Lin, Head of the Sustainability and Inclusion Team at NTCH. Panelists shared how cultural venues under different national and cultural contexts implemented sustainability practices to improve operations and positively impact society.

With NTCH as an example, the forum highlighted the progress of its greenhouse gas inventory, now in its third year, and ongoing efforts to upgrade its internal infrastructure. NTCH has successively phased out high-energy-consuming equipment, including water pumps, concert hall lighting, and front-of-house fixtures, resulting in a total electricity reduction of 295,166 kWh. NTCH also actively advocates for sustainability across sectors, encouraging audiences, performing groups, and corporate partners to take sustainability action.

As part of the forum’s extensive agenda, NTCH has introduced a new sign language-guided tour video, along with an Easy Read tour of the Concert Hall. By expanding its range of accessible tour services, NTCH hopes to open its doors to a more diverse audience, ensuring that people from different communities can find suitable ways to engage with the arts.

The afternoon session, “Sustainable Creation: Expanding the Horizons of Imagination,” began with a presentation by Cheng Chia-Yin, Artistic Director of Puppet & Its Double Theater and former NTCH artist-in-residence. Cheng shared insights from A Guide to Green Workshop, developed during the residency, which examined the environmental impact of puppetry at every stage: from design, procurement, and production to performance and retirement; assessing both the positive and negative effects of each process on sustainability. She also discussed how the company has incorporated theater education and outreach to its operations to extend the lifespan of productions and promote sustainable practices.

Caroline Barneaud, Director of Artistic and International Projects of Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne (Switzerland) also shared her experiences in sustainable theater production, using Shared Landscapes as a case study. Senior Producer Mu Chin from the NTCH Programming Department presented sustainable touring practices from the NTCH in-house production, This Is Not an Embassy, including measures such as dividing travel teams between Europe and Asia, and reducing the number of flights.

With a longstanding commitment to inclusion, NTCH led the final session, “Inclusive Society: How Art Fosters Social Inclusion.” Akiela Wang, Head of ArtReach Section of the Communication Department at NTCH, introduced the theater’s outreach initiatives aimed at youth and senior audiences. Lynn Yang, Senior Producer at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Singapore), and Nathalie Martinelli, Head of European Projects from Piccolo Teatro di Milano (Italy) shared their experiences in planning and facilitating community engagement activities that foster interaction with different social groups. Their work offered diverse perspectives and channels for outreach, helping to engage broader audiences and expand the conversation around inclusion in the arts. Through the international exchanges at the conference, NTCH hopes to shape a more inclusive and resilient performing arts ecosystem—grounded in sustainable operations, environmentally conscious creation, and social inclusion.

Through this year’s Sustainable Theater Conference, NTCH sought to connect with arts venues, festivals, and performing arts groups worldwide to share and discuss sustainable principles and practical experiences, review progress, and explore new possibilities.

At the same time, through the Dual Carbon Reduction Plan, NTCH invites audiences to take
part in carbon reduction efforts, continue advancing along the path of sustainability.

Organizer: National Theater & Concert Hall (NTCH)
Co-organizer: STAGES (Sustainable Theatre Alliance for a Green Environmental Shift)
Media Partners: CommonWealth Magazine, Plain Law Movement
Sustainability Partners: iPASS Corporation, ASE Cultural & Educational Foundation, Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cathay Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

NTCH Media Contact:

Kang Syuan (康瑄)｜kangsyuan@mail.npac-ntch.org｜+886-938-398-709