Ambassador Theatre Group to Switch Off Theatre Lights in Celebration of WWF's Earth Hour

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 8.30pm, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will join millions of businesses and individuals across the world to celebrate WWF's Earth Hour and will switch off lights in all of its theatres for one hour to show the company's ongoing commitment to the environment.

ATG's involvement in Earth Hour 2016 follows an incredible 12 months for the company in which it won several major environmental awards for its green initiatives.

In 2015, ATG won the Green World Ambassador Award for helping others to help the Environment and was awarded a prize at the Energy Management Association Awards 2015 for its Energy Reduction Project through Organisational Behaviour Change.

ATG's award-winning energy saving initiative, Project Blackout (a Silver Green Apple Award winner in 2014) received another award in 2015; a Green World Award (in the category of Energy Economy) from the Green Organisation at a ceremony held in New Zealand; and the company's winning paper was included in The Green Book of Environmental Best Practice reference.

In addition, ATG's Churchill Theatre Bromley won Green Business of the Year at the Bromley Business Awards and New Wimbledon Theatre won the award for Venue Sustainability at the Technical Theatre Awards 2015.

With Earth Hour, ATG will take part in a symbolic moment, not designed to have impact through an hour of energy saving, but to help shine a spotlight on the issues facing the planet and to remind us that, together, we have the power to make change happen.

ATG will be supporting Earth Hour 2016 by:

· Switching off all non-essential lights for one hour in its UK and International venues at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 19.

· Encouraging customers and employees to sign up to the #bigswitchoff

· Organizing Earth Hour #candlelitselfie experiences to engage with customers and staff to raise money to support WWF's vital conservation work.

· Selling a special Earth Hour Cocktail during the week leading up to Earth Hour and donating £1 from each cocktail sold to WWF. ATG's Ambassador Lounges and theatre bars will also be lit by LED candle light.

· 10 UK ATG venues will be supporting the #passthepanda campaign.

Rosemary Squire, ATG's Joint CEO, said: "I am so impressed by the support and enthusiasm which our theatres in London, around the UK and beyond show for Earth Hour. It is such an effective way of demonstrating to our audiences that as an organisation we are absolutely committed to limiting damage to the environment."

Jennifer Clements, spokesperson for WWF-UK, said: "We're thrilled that the Ambassador Theatre Group will be taking part in WWF's Earth Hour this year and hope that they'll inspire many others to get involved. By taking one simple step to switch off, WWF's Earth Hour is a chance for all of us to come together and send out a global message about protecting our planet."

ATG patrons or staff who wish to make a donation to support WWF can do so online - http://www.justgiving.com/Ambassador-Theatre-Group. Or by text: CNDL47 £3 to 70070

There is no minimum donation and all donors will have the opportunity to gift aid their donation if they wish.

Everyone can join the celebration for WWF's Earth Hour on Saturday, March 19, 2016. For more information and to sign up please visit wwf.org.uk/earthhour .