Theatre

Hull theatre company Middle Child is implementing a four-day week.

The company announced the move, which it says has been done to improve work-life balance for staff, alongside revealing its 2023 programme.

It becomes the latest in a line of arts organisations to announce four-day weeks. Last week, Manchester’s Contact theatre announced plans for a trial, while Flatpack Festival adopted the schedule permanently.

Middle Child is also set to pilot a new “financial access rider” scheme over the next 12 months, which will see them ask freelancers they work with what adjustments can be made around payment schedules, to make theatre more accessible to people from lower socio-economic background.

Artistic Director Paul Smith said the switch to a four-day week follows a successful pilot at the company.

“We know first-hand that the theatre industry can be a demanding and often unsustainable workplace. By moving to a four-day week, we hope to create a more sustainable and equitable workplace for everyone we work with,” he added.
 
“Today we talk the big talk, but from tomorrow we start putting our plan into action and doing everything we can to make sure everyone’s story can be told and heard, breaking down barriers to accessing theatre for all.”

The charity that runs the Exchange Theatre in North Shields has announced that it will close the venue after failing to reach an agreement with the local council over the use of the site.

The theatre, café and bar is housed in the Grade II-listed Saville Exchange building, owned by North Tyneside Council.

It will close for up to four weeks from 17 April, while it undergoes a refit, before reopening with a new operator as part of the council’s plans to develop the town.

For the past seven years, the theatre has been operated by the Exchange Theatre charity. Tony Bridges, Chair of the charity’s board, said it had created a space to inspire future generations through the arts, ensuring the arts were accessible to all, not just to “one section of society”.

“It is with sadness that we are preparing to leave the building”, a spokesperson for the charity said.

John Sparkes, Director of Regeneration and Economic Development at North Tyneside Council, said that the building is key to plans for creating a vibrant “Cultural Quarter” in the town.

He added that the new operators, selected through an open tender process, were prepared to invest significantly in the building. 

“We'll be working closely with the new operator on the transfer of the building and look forward to seeing this cultural landmark flourish in the future”, he said.
 

A West End theatre education charity is ushering in "a new era" of activity with a name change after 25 years.

Mousetrap Theatre Projects, whose patrons include Hugh Bonneville, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Alison Steadman OBE, will now be known as Go Live Theatre Projects.

Originally formed in 1997, the charity is 'dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through theatre'.  

Chief Executive Susan Whiddington CBE said: "Our name change to Go Live Theatre Projects reflects the important thread that runs through all of our work with schools, families and youth groups – offering young people and families the special opportunity to attend ‘live’ theatre performances.”

Whiddington added that she was “extremely proud of all that our charity has achieved in the last 25 years for disadvantaged young people, those with additional needs and low-income families, working hand in hand with the theatre industry".

As Go Live, the charity will be "staying true to our mission to use the power of theatre to create inspiring experiences and unlock possibilities for young people," Whiddington said.

A union is urging backstage theatre workers to check their contracts for clauses that prevent them talking about their rates of pay.

Bectu said many backstage theatre contracts include such clauses, which aim to keep terms and wages confidential.

The union believes the clauses should not be included and may be used to hide unfair pay practices.

It said The Equality Act 2010, and in particular Section 77, protects "the right that employees can legally discuss their work pay with colleagues".

The legislation states that employers "should not discipline anyone for discussing their work pay" and "should not include clauses in employee contracts that prevent workers from talking about pay".

The union stressed that the law only protects employees when discussing pay for the purpose of establishing an unfair pay issue in a workplace.

Bectu Assistant National Secretary Helen Ryan said: “It’s no secret that low pay is one of the core issues driving the chronic skills shortage in the UK theatre sector.

"We want to help implement pay consistency across the industry so it’s imperative that workers aren’t wrongfully bound by clauses that prevent them from discussing their pay, or allow for disciplinary action for doing so."

She added: “Productions we have spoken to about this have overwhelmingly responded positively and removed the clause, which we hope will encourage people to call out these clauses when they see them."

UK theatres need additional funding to make them more sustainable, the national advisory body for theatres has said.

Jon Morgan, Director of Theatres Trust, said “a record number of applications” for the Trust’s Theatre Improvement Scheme “shows the urgent need for funding for sustainability improvements”.

Seven theatres across the UK have received funding awards totalling £124,000 in the latest round of the scheme, which is supported by the Wolfson Foundation.

The funded projects demonstrate “the range of ways that theatres can make a difference,” Morgan said.

He added: “This grants scheme, along with our ongoing work on the Theatre Green Book, is part of our overall mission to make theatres more sustainable.”

Funded projects include the Grade-II listed Leeds Grand Theatre, which aims to reduce its water use by up to 50% with new taps, toilet flushes and shower valves.

The Garage in Norwich is using its funding to install solar panels and LEDs, reducing its lighting energy use by up to 80%.

The other funded venues are: New Diorama Theatre in London; the Old Fire Station, Oxford; Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle; An Lanntair in Stornoway; and Cast in Doncaster.

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “At this time of high energy costs, we know that improving the environmental and financial sustainability of buildings has renewed urgency for the sector.

“These seven projects are excellent examples of the practical changes organisations can make.”

The next round of the Theatre Improvement Scheme is now open for applications, with £115,000 to be awarded in grants of up to £20,000.