Opinion with Marcus Marsh

As a theatre industry we need to group together to support young artists now more than ever and be as generous as possible with our time. During the pandemic, I remember reading an article published by The Stage which said that 72% of theatre directors in their early careers had considered leaving theatre and the arts forever. While we might be over the worst of Covid, these issues remain.

Audiences are still recovering from the pandemic. Recently it was reported that ticket sales were down 25% at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mentoring Schemes (including those at the Society of London Theatre and the National Theatre) are being scrapped. Resources are stretched, spread thinner across the industry. Where are school leavers and graduates meant to start?

Alongside this young people are growing up in some of the most challenging environments to nurture a career in the arts – and I'm not just referring to the social-political situation. Social media and technology have contributed many positives to our society. However, they have also shortened attention spans and put more external pressures on young people than ever before. If you want something, you can get it – immediately. You want food? Order a takeaway. You want a product? Order it online. You want to watch something on TV, stick on Netflix. You don't even have to wait for adverts. Looking for a date? Download a dating app. These instant gratifications are breeding a culture of impatience, which are leading to health risks as a consequence.

In the arts you can't simply apply for an entry-level job and work up the ladder. There is no linear path, so young people need guidance and understand the industry beyond the bubble of education. Pair these challenges with the filters of social media engagement and constant career comparison, is there any wonder mental health charities have seen an increased demand of their services?

There must be a solution. It's on us and the institutions we work for to help. We can be active in pushing the government for more funding and reiterating the the benefits of the arts, but it is likely to fall on deaf ears. We have to make it happen ourselves. Individually, we must encourage young people to ask questions and be curious, but also make sure we commit to answering those questions and taking the time to be honest in our answers.

If, as an industry, we are truly wanting to create accessible, diverse theatre, then producing houses and companies must do more. They have the spaces and resources to create more mentoring and shadowing schemes, and entry-level opportunities where early-career artists (with very limited experience) can develop their skills.