A happy workforce

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19 Apr 2018

With the Mayflower Theatre recently listed by the Sunday Times as one of the best organisations to work for, Robin Hancox explains the recent workforce initiatives that helped secure the listing.

Building a grassroots touring circuit

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12 Apr 2018

Presenting theatre in pubs and social clubs can help breathe life into communities and engage non-arts audiences. Rod Dixon explains how Red Ladder has created a touring model dependent on local promoters.

How we… make theatre with refugees

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23 Mar 2018

Neil Beddow explains how acta in Bristol overcomes the challenges of engaging migrant and refugee communities in theatre making. 

Partnering with charities

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21 Mar 2018

Working with a children’s hospice has allowed Birmingham Hippodrome to make its productions accessible to families who might otherwise miss out, and it has learnt a lot along the way, says Nichole Cooper.

We can’t leave it to chance!

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01 Mar 2018

Mandy Precious considers herself lucky to have discovered the arts, but are the next generation getting the same chances she did?

A dedicated director of business development

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28 Feb 2018

As a small but fast-growing touring theatre company run by part-time staff, Hubbub Theatre Company has benefited from appointing a Director of Business Development. Jo Kemp explains what her job entails. 

My Gurus – Natasha Wood

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22 Feb 2018

Artistic Director of Théâtre Volière Natasha Wood describes how death ‘snapping at her heels’ propels her on. That and Davie Bowie, of course.

Let’s take on panto

Production shot - two actors with nets
15 Feb 2018

Has panto become culturally inappropriate, racist even? Oh yes it has, calls out Daniel York.

Rural England: is there an appetite for culturally diverse art?

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08 Feb 2018

New research found audiences in rural Lincolnshire are hungry for culturally diverse theatre and dance, but the provision isn’t there. Arya Madhavan and Sreenath Nair explore the issues.

Performing in smaller spaces

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08 Feb 2018

When Clod Ensemble decided to work on a completely different scale and tour a one-woman show to rural Scotland, it was faced with a creative challenge. Roxanne Peak-Payne tells the story.

Long van journeys into the night

Production shot - man at table holding a knife
08 Feb 2018

Rural touring can be exhausting and unpredictable, but the key to making it a rewarding, rich experience is finding the right people to work with, says Jack McNamara

Making the most of tax relief

11 Jan 2018

Tax relief has enabled many theatre companies to take creative risks and invest more in productions without the fear of financial loss. Margot Madin explains how.

Tough love for better engagement

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03 Jan 2018

Purging inactive subscribers from Chichester Festival Theatre’s email list has helped improve the effectiveness of its marketing campaigns. Alice Young explains how.

Why there should be more art in prisons

Production shot - men in suits
14 Dec 2017

When prisoners are actually requesting more arts activities, why are we not giving them what they want, asks Jess Thorpe.

A challenging but manageable journey

Photo of man wearing mask
14 Dec 2017

Male prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm may be apprehensive about signing up for a theatre project, but some finish Geese Theatre Company’s five-day course giddy with pride. Louise Heywood shares the story.

Making meaningful work – and measuring it

Photo of man breakdancing with people sitting round
14 Dec 2017

Helping prisoners devise and perform a piece of children’s theatre for their families may help reduce re-offending rates, but Selina Busby questions whether the evaluation of such projects is as effective as it should be.

Beating the ticket touts

Photo of actor with skull
04 Dec 2017

When a production of Hamlet promised to be the hot ticket of the year, RADA embraced technology to make the box office experience fairer for customers and less stressful for staff. Helen Slater tells the story.

Regional theatre income up despite stalling sales

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01 Dec 2017

A large increase in income from musicals and concerts offset falling ticket sales for plays last year, according to box office data from UK Theatre.

Making the transition to producing house

Man and woman on stage in period costume
28 Nov 2017

London’s West End is full of receiving theatres, but the Jermyn Street Theatre has recently rebranded and restructured itself as a producing house. Tom Littler tells the story.

How September became Stafftember

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23 Nov 2017

Stafftember was an opportunity for employees at Theatre Royal Plymouth to find out about each other’s jobs, from operating the spotlights to casting a production. Rebecca Pettitt explains how it came about.

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