Freecycle for theatre

As you may or may not know my line of work is within theatre and this week a friend of mine (also a theatre technician) posted this tweet.

I think this has to do with her dissertation but it got me thinking how well it would work and the possibility of this happening.
Now if you are not sure what freecycle is this is the main information straight from there site ( http://www.uk.freecycle.org/ )

"Welcome to the UK Freecycle(R) Groups' Homepage

The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process.

How does Freecycle work?

Everything posted must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages. When you want to OFFER something - whether it's a chair, fax machine, piano or an old door, simply send an email to your group.

Maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself? Post a WANTED message and a group member may just have what you're looking for. Alert the group with a follow-up RECEIVED email.

After that it is up to the giver to decide who receives the gift from the responses only they receive and to set up a collection time, and finally post an item TAKEN message."

In light of the recent arts cuts are we at a stage now within the arts that we have to share our recorses not only for the sake of the environment but also for budget reasons. Theatre is at a stage were we as an industry need to change and modernise and everyone in the industry is excited and interested in modernising and being innovative but it comes across that were not quite sure how to do it. One of the major issues is becoming environmentally friendly. Having to use all those lights and providing comfortable spaces for the audiences to sit for two hours that include things like air conditioning all take up a lot a lot of energy. Not only that but we are such a useful industry that most times after a run of a show is finished we might end up throwing away or destroying our sets as we see that they are most likely wont be used again in the future. so why are we not setting up a freecycle for theatre, why does it not already exist. With a great online forum for theatre professionals already existing which is the blue room forum surely this is the next step. At the end of a run when there is some dance floor that might be a bit battered and scuffed from the heavy use at the royal opera house why is it not put onto a site like this and a small venue who does not mind having some slightly scuffed dance floor as they cannot afford a brand new role can have it for free instead as i have seen been done thrown into the skip! going as far as lighting and sound equipment as well there might be a big theatre ready for an upgrade due to a nice little bit of funding can put there old gear on there. Theatre is based on being a community experience so why do we not take inspiration from a successful community website and adopt it as our own. Create one more great community for us as an industry to share our equipment, sets, costumes ect. We need it as an industry to keep going and to start to achieve our goals that the companies set themselves.