Bristol’s Old Vic theatre has become the latest historic building in the city to give top billing to solar energy as a way to become more sustainable.
The venue – the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world – called in Bristol-based solar design and installation firm Solarsense for the difficult role.
With support from arts charity the Wolfson Foundation, 72 solar panels have been installed on the 18th-century theatre’s backstage roof spaces.
The Old Vic said decarbonising a public building that first opened in 1766 and is used for a wide range of activities was no easy task.
However, it has continually strived to become more efficient at using and wasting less energy over recent years.
It sees drawing electricity from renewable sources as a key step towards reducing its environmental impact.
Solarsense started work on fitting the array just ahead of the curtain going up on the musical Choir Boy this autumn – and had to take great care not to disrupt rehearsals.
A step crane on the narrow roads around the theatre was used to deliver the panels, which have been installed on a section of roof added five years ago as part of its multi-million-pound redevelopment and hidden behind the theatre’s iconic Grade 1 listed auditorium.
Barring one pause to prevent noise disturbing rehearsals taking place below, the installation took just a week and started producing energy the week after.
The array builds on previous sustainable renovations at the theatre, including fitting automated building management systems and passive ventilation, through to LED lighting and a community greenhouse, where staff volunteer to grow food.
Old Vic productions and operations director David Harraway said the only thing not on show to visitors were the new solar panels.
“The major phase of refurbishment we completed five years ago helped ensure our building was working hard to be as sustainable as possible, but this was a missing piece until now,” he added.
“We are so pleased with the result, the Solarsense team managed the installation carefully and sensitively.”
Solarsense managing director Stephen Barrett, who launched the business nearly 30 years ago, said Bristol Old Vic’s positive approach to what solar could achieve, made it a pleasure and privilege to work on the project.
“We pride ourselves on a solution-focused approach to buildings like the Bristol Old Vic,” he added.
“Working around an entire theatre set which arrived at the same time as we did or keeping the noise down while rehearsals were taking place ensured the show came first.
“But it didn’t get in the way of what we achieved during installation and are achieving on historic buildings all over the UK.”
There were often ways, through design and product choice, to bring this most effective of energy sources to the oldest and finest of buildings without – as is the case at Bristol Old Vic – anyone even knowing it’s operating, he said.
Based in a new head office and warehouse in Clevedon, Solarsense designs and instals PV systems – with up to 85% of the business now linked to the commercial roof market.
Its clients range from owners of factories and warehouses to council buildings, community halls and leisure centres, and in recent years have included Glastonbury Festival, household products firm Brabantia, the Duchy of Cornwall, UWE Bristol, the NHS, the RSPB, Tesco and socially conscious toiletries retailer Lush.
