Marmoset – a start up from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Producing environmental friendly alternatives to design and construction
Marmoset is a Glasgow-based scenic construction company founded by Royal Conservatoire Graduates Max Gabbott and Fergus Massie.
Marmoset’s mission is to reduce wasteful industry practices by providing an environmentally friendly alternative to existing design and construction methods for theatre, film, events and shopfitting clients.
Aligning with the sustainability targets of the Theatre Green Book, Marmoset ensures that 50-75% of the materials used have a previous life and that 65-80% are reused or recycled after project completion.
Max and Fergus met while studying set construction at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. During their studies, they became aware of the unsustainable practises of the industry, often building projects only to see them sent to landfill weeks later. Out of these experiences came the desire to find an alternative method of working and their different backgrounds before study, Max in design and Fergus as a time-served joiner, meant they had complementary skill sets.
Driven by its ambition to create long-term change, Marmoset champions circular economy practices to benefit its craftsmen, clients and the planet.
Upon graduating in 2022, the duo received the prestigious Bruce Millar Award from RCS, which provided vital support for the creation and development of Marmoset as a business.
Co-founder, Fergus Massie:
“After researching the industry a little more, we found that although there were some businesses set up to support a more circular economy (in so far as they would store used set elements) there were none which were actively creating new set pieces using repurposed elements. This is where the idea for Marmoset was born.”
Co-founder, Max Gabbot:
“There’s a staggering amount of virgin material that is scrapped after just one use – in theatres, events and film. Determined to address it, we began using companies such as Reset Scenery (RCS Staff Start-Up) for recycled set materials and found that not only was this option more sustainable but also more economical.”