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Sets from the BBC drama Wolf Hall put to new use

Picture Zero A group of nine film students posing with items from the sets of the BBC drama Wolf Wall including a plynth, paintings and a ladder.Picture Zero
A film school in Bristol was one of several organisations which received sets

Film sets used in the BBC series Wolf Hall are being given to performing arts groups to stop them going to waste.

The sets from the second series of the drama, which follows King Henry VIII's top minister Thomas Cromwell, have been passed onto people including film students and a living history event.

The attempt to find new uses for more than 20 tonnes of set materials comes as the film industry is trying to tackle its carbon emissions and reduce waste.

A Bristol film school, Boom Satsuma is reusing some of the items. Student Bryson, 17, said: "It's really helped us a lot, instead of being wasted and no one using it."

The sets were used on location at various sites around the West Country but after filming was finished they were stored at a film studio in Bristol called The Bottle Yard.

The Producer of Wolf Hall, Lisa Osborne, said: "As our industry grapples with the overlapping challenges of climate change and resource depletion, it is more important than ever to tackle our consumption excesses and reduce waste."

A promotional image for the Wolf Hall series. To the right is Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in period costume with a black hat and top and a claret fur cloak. To the left is Damian Lewis dressed as King Henry VIII with a feathered hat, white cape and purple tunic.
Wolf Hall stars actors Mark Rylance and Damien Lewis

A company called Picture Zero, that works to make the film industry more sustainable, has now stepped in to help find new homes for the scenery and props.

Their sustainability manager Lily Limmer, said the 23 tonnes of sets would have "generated around 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent" if sent to landfill.

Most of the scenery went to the White Horse Military Show - a living history event that takes place in Wiltshire.

Its production manager Richard Dalton said: "I hate waste. I can't bear it when things get thrown away, especially when they're so usable.

"The film industry is taking note and recycling wherever they can."

Picture Zero Two film students standing in a large room surrounded by pieces from the set of the drama Wolf Hall. It includes a wooden chair, some gold pillars and arches lying on their sides.Picture Zero
The sets were repurposed to help cut carbon emissions

Smaller items were given away to Boom Satsuma - a sixth form film school based at Bottle Yard Studios.

Student Bryson, 17, said : "Instead of us finding a ladder, a pillar or panels, we were able to take them."

Steve Smith, sustainability consultant at Picture Zero, said the film industry has "quite a big carbon footprint". He added that it uses lots of energy running studios and filming on location as well as all the materials used for sets, costumes and props.

"Often when you go to studios you see wood being thrown into skips, which often gets burnt, which is a crying shame."

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