REDDITCH'S Palace Theatre was recently announced as winner of this year's Technical Theatre Award for Venue Sustainability.

The prize, sponsored by industry manufacturer GDS, is awarded to venues that have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their quest to improve the sustainable practices within their venues.

The shortlist, which also included the Savoy Theatre in London and the Regent Theatre in Stoke, was a strong one, with the Palace ultimately chosen using a scoring system developed by entertaining sustainability.

Matt Lloyd, managing director of GDS presented the award during a ceremony at PLASA London, and said that that the judging reflected the self-motivation, drive and ambition of the venue, as well as the fact that by engaging with sustainable initiatives, the Palace Theatre had managed to add a full working week of production to its calendar.

The investment made in more flexible LED stage lighting kit by the theatre staff meant that more creative solutions could be put into practice than before, meaning a higher quality of performance produced by the venue for its audience.