About Us

The ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform (VIP) was born from the vision of Charles Haines, then Head of Performance Venues at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, who recognised the need for a space that celebrates the creative ingenuity of those working behind the scenes in theatre. His idea was simple but powerful: to spotlight the innovations, tools, and processes developed every day by production professionals. ideas that too often go unrecognised, yet are essential to the future of the industry.

Launched in 2021, the Virtual Ideas Platform came to life during a time of deep industry reflection. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) saw an urgent need not only to rebuild theatre, but to rethink it, with those who keep it running at its centre.

The platform was developed in partnership with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and in 2025, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) joined as a partner. This cross-institutional collaboration has helped the Virtual Ideas Platform  grow into a space where ideas can be shared freely, and where the people who shape theatre, from stage managers and technicians to designers and makers, can feel empowered to lead innovation.

career makers at the heart of this process. The Virtual Ideas Platform amplifies their voices, championing ideas, technical, practical, or conceptual, that have the potential to transform how theatre is made, who it includes, and how it sustains itself into the future.

Since its inception, the VIP has become a respected platform for experimentation and possibility. Our mission remains clear: to amplify the voices of those working within the industry and to support ideas that will shape a more resilient, inclusive, and inventive theatre landscape.