Good businesses are economically, socially and environmentally responsible - no less so in the live entertainment sector than elsewhere. After spending considerable time in the industry, we created :entertaining sustainability to challenge the notion that these responsibilities are somehow difficult or annoying to fulfil - rather that between us, we already have the skills and experience, and can help each other meet the responsibilities.

Unlike some others,  we've actually worked in the industry (and continue to do so), so we not only understand the difficulties and challenges, we speak the language, know the people and companies, and most importantly know the responsibility you have to your patrons, day in and day out.

We won't patronise you with 'low-hanging fruit', 'change agents' and the like - we'll just help you on the road to achieving your sustainability potential - with a minimum of fuss, in a language you understand and without too much of a furrowed brow!

Tim Atkinson  BA (Hons) - Technical Director

Tim graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1997, in the first year of the College's Lighting Design degree course. A long stint in backstage live theatre and performance followed, including Tommy, Grease, Rent, and the Opening Ceremony and Central Show, Ovo, at the Millennium Dome. 

In 2000, Tim moved to the Shaftesbury Theatre and spent ten years as Deputy Chief Electrician - with responsibilities for both building and show electrics and lighting. Tim also worked as a production electrician and relighter for other projects, such as La Cuadra de Sevilla's national tour of Carmen, as well as lighting designer for MTV Base's Young Gods of Comedy. While at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Tim trained as an energy assessor, and in early 2010 moved to the The Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatres, to deliver their ground-breaking Ecovenue sustainability project, working with 48 London theatres to improve their environmental performance. 

In late 2012, Tim co-founded :entertaining sustainability with a view to help all businesses in the entertainment industry improve their environmental and sustainability performance using practical, experience-based knowledge of entertainment building services. With 15 years in the industry, Tim has an in-depth knowledge of the people, buildings and suppliers in the industry, and crucially, the practicalities of integrating sustainability into everyday work without compromising the look, feel and experience that patrons expect. 

Tim carries out building services and electrical efficiency audits of buildings, as well as assisting creative enterprises develop processes and action plans  from a building services level right through to establishing environmental policies, 'green teams' and introducing auditable monitoring of energy, water and waste streams.

Tim has written for Arts Professional, sustain' and the Stage newspaper and has an occasional column in leading entertainment technology magazine Lighting & Sound International. He has spoken at numerous drama school events and lectures, and chaired the Ecolight conference at LuxLive in 2013. Tim is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Ruth Atkinson BA (Hons) - Creative Director

Ruth graduated from University of Wales, Bangor in 1997 with a degree in History. She then trained in Stage Management and Technical Theatre at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Since moving to London in 1999 she has worked backstage on various shows including Ovo (Millennium Dome), The Lion King (Lyceum), We Will Rock You (Dominion), Movin' Out (Apollo Victoria), Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly), . Into the Hoods & the RSC's Hamlet (Novello) and Hairspray & Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury). She has also stage managed various shows including The Miniaturists (Arcola), Moll Flanders (national tour) and Our Country's Good (Arden Theatre School, Manchester).

Always keen to see the entertainment business behave more ethically and sustainably, and having broadened her knowledge of sustainable business, Ruth co-founded :entertaining sustainability with Tim in late 2012. Ruth is responsible for website content development and research, as well as handling web advertising and business opportunities for entertainingsustainability.com. 

Ruth will be formalising her sustainability knowledge by undertaking a Masters degree in sustainable business.

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