IN a creative collaboration blending theatre with wildlife conservation, the Princess Theatre, Torquay has donated a selection of its retired fly ropes (used in theatre rigging systems) to Paignton Zoo.

The ropes, once used to hoist backdrops, scenery and lighting in countless productions, are now enjoying a second life supporting the residents of the Zoo’s popular Lemur Woods, where the sturdy ropes have provided new climbing and swinging opportunities for the agile primates.

As part of an ongoing sustainability initiative, the theatre sought to repurpose its old fly system components following a recent upgrade.

Rather than sending the ropes to landfill, the team reached out to Paignton Zoo, who welcomed the opportunity to enrich the environment of their lemur habitat. General Manager of the Princess Theatre - Ross Bibby said: "These ropes had reached the end of their service at the Princess Theatre, and we are pleased to donate them to Wild Planet Trust/Paignton Zoo.

“Repurposing them for use in animal enclosures offers a valuable second life and provides excellent enrichment for the animals, while also preventing the ropes from ending up in landfill. This is a sustainable and meaningful way to support animal welfare and conservation”.

Paignton Zoo’s Steph Dawson, Business Development Manager, echoed the excitement: “This generous donation from the Princess Theatre provides excellent enrichment for our lemurs while supporting our shared commitment to sustainability. It's a perfect example of how local partnerships can benefit both wildlife conservation and the environment.”

To see how theatrical rigging has been transformed into lemur playground equipment, watch the behind-the-scenes video “Theatre to Zoo” - available on the Princess Theatre Torquay and Paignton Zoo social media channels.