A new shared library for costumes, props, sets, and equipment is providing Wellington’s arts community with a sustainable alternative to discarding creative materials after productions. The Green Green Room, operated by independent theatre companies Barbarian Productions and Trick of the Light, aims to reduce waste and preserve artistic resources by lending out items to performers, event organisers, and other cultural practitioners.

Currently housed in two separate locations—one in Thorndon near the Botanic Garden and the other under Tāwhiri Warehouse in Newtown—the library holds a diverse collection ranging from everyday items such as curtains, folding chairs, and portable partitions to more distinctive pieces like papier-mâché sculptures, masks, puppets, vintage rotary phones, and period costumes. Much of these items have been sourced through donations from local theatre companies and reflect Wellington’s rich performing arts history, including masks from avant-garde company Red Mole and costumes from the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

The initiative operates on a borrowing model, charging $10 per item or offering an annual subscription priced at $50 for unlimited access. This arrangement has attracted an array of users, including arts students, participants in the New Zealand Fringe Festival, and filmmakers, demonstrating the broad appeal within the creative sector. Although current hours are limited to two per week or by appointment, organisers hope to eventually combine the two locales into a single central hub for increased accessibility.

Kaia Costanza-van Den Belt, who helps manage the service, describes the Green Green Room as a community-driven space intended to extend the lifecycle of creative assets that might otherwise be relegated to storage or landfill. "It’s a lot more economical to borrow from here," she said. "The possibilities are endless." Some items can also be purchased outright, but the organisation prioritises retaining commonly requested or historically significant pieces.

Founders of Barbarian Productions and Trick of the Light emphasise that the Green Green Room responds to longstanding challenges faced by independent artists, including sourcing unique materials and finding storage solutions. Jo Randerson of Barbarian Productions highlighted the decline of similar shared resource services from previous decades, noting that the current effort revives a collaborative, circular approach within the arts community. “This is very much about creating a circular economy and getting stuff re-used,” Randerson said, adding that the traditional model of individual ownership is no longer sustainable.

Thomas LaHood, Barbarian Productions’ co-director, expressed a vision for expanding the service to include workshops focused on deconstructing and repurposing materials, further promoting education on sustainable creative practices. "Nothing should languish in a dusty corner of someone’s personal property where it could have a life and contribute to creative expression," he said.

Ralph McCubbin Howell and Hannah Smith, co-founders of Trick of the Light, underscored how the collaboration addresses environmental concerns and funding constraints by diverting items from landfills and pooling scarce resources. They also noted its value for artists exploring new ideas without making costly purchases, offering inspiration through access to an eclectic range of materials.

The Green Green Room invites donations and welcomes community members seeking creative opportunities in Wellington’s cultural landscape. For more information, interested parties can contact the organisation via email or visit its website and social media channels.