House of Lords recommends visas to save the UK's post-Brexit cultural sector
A new report published by the House of Lords suggests reciprocal arrangements for movement of people between the UK and the EU are needed to avoid a decline in skilled cultural sector workers coming to the country.
The report, entitled Brexit: movement of people in the cultural sector, suggests that bringing EU cultural workers under the same restrictions as currently apply to third-country nationals could harm the sector, because existing visa rules require a minimum salary in excess of what many cultural organisations can offer.
In addition, it points out that the ability to move between the UK and EU at short notice is integral to the business model of many cultural sector organisations, as in the services of consultants and freelance workers operating on a project basis.
The House of Lords EU Home Affairs sub-committee suggests that the government consider two possible visa options that would recognise the importance of freedom of movement between cultural sector workers:
- Extend the permitted paid engagement and permit-free festival arrangements to EU citizens
- Offer a multi-country, multi-entry short-term ‘touring visa’ for EU citizens, and seek a reciprocal commitment for UK citizens travelling to the EU.
Lord Jay of Ewelme, chairman of the committee, said: ‘If the government is to achieve its wish to establish an immigration system that meets the needs of the post-Brexit economy, the UK's negotiators will need to be flexible.
‘This means recognising that any restrictions on EU citizens wishing to enter the UK to work may be matched by reciprocal restrictions on UK workers in the EU.’ parliament.uk/business/lords/
Helpline pilot scheme to support theatre and performing arts workers
A new helpline has been set up by the Theatre Development Trust, the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre to provide a wide-reaching support network to those working in theatre and the performing arts.
Theatre professionals from across the industry can call the free helpline at any time to seek support around a number of issues. In addition to obtaining advice on training and funding opportunities, callers can also ask for help with mental health, harassment, employment disputes and financial difficulties.
The line will be staffed by workers from Connect Assist, a Wales-based organisation which provides helpline support for several UK charities, who are trained to advise and support. They will also be able to signpost to further information and resources if they are unable to help.
Importantly, callers are confidential, meaning that a person does not need to be a member of SOLT or UK Theatre to use the service. Callers do not need to provide a name or contact details and anonymous data regarding the type of support a caller was seeking is the only information that is stored long-term. This data will be used to improve and expand the scheme, which is being run initially as a 12-month pilot.
In addition to the helpline, SOLT and UK Theatre have jointly published a handbook which offers best-practice advice for theatre organisations, based on similar guidelines published by the BFI for the film industry. Both the handbook and the helpline are part of these organisations’ commitment to improving the quality and quantity of workplace support that is available to those working in the theatre industry.
The helpline's number is 0800 915 4617 More information can be found at theatrehelpline.org
LAMDA and Audible announce creative partnership
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) has entered into a creative partnership with Audible UK. This collaboration will see Audible provide LAMDA with £150,000 in funding over the next three years to help support upcoming actors.
Joanna Read, principal of LAMDA says: ‘We are delighted that this new partnership has come to fruition. Here at LAMDA we are committed to providing students with diverse and varied training which will set them up for a career in an industry which is constantly evolving. This new collaboration will offer our talented students an exciting opportunity to develop skills within an increasingly growing field of performing arts.’
Part of the fund will be used to provide a single scholarship place covering all three years of tuition fees to a LAMDA student who is both in need of financial assistance and has an interest in audio recording. The first recipient of this scholarship, Alistair Nwachukwu, explained ‘I had my audition, and about two or three days afterwards they called me in. I came in to LAMDA and the Head of Drama offered me a place – I started to cry, and I said “thank you very much,” and then he said “We also want to offer you a three year scholarship,” and I was just speechless. I think LAMDA and Audible coming together is just such a great idea. It's a great opportunity for a student not to have in the back of their minds the debts they might have to deal with; and just to be free to immerse themselves in the work.’ Of audio drama, he said ‘I think it's the new way of storytelling – it's only recently that technology's changing and the generations are changing, that I've started to notice it. Driving to work or being in the gym you can't read a book, but you can put on Audible and listen to a novel or a play, and it's such an easy way to immerse yourself in a story.’
Audible's experience as a leading producer of audio entertainment will also be used to develop specialist training across a number of workshops, to be delivered at its studios. Participants can expect to be given training around microphone technique and assistance in creating voice reels, and will also receive career advice from top industry professionals. LAMDA's own new facilities, which it moved into in 2017, will be installed with state-of-the-art technology to support their mission of delivering innovative performing arts training.
In addition, the partnership will see the development of new audio dramas that are specifically targeted at young people, something for which Audible believes there to be a growing demand which is not being met. Tracey Markham, Audible UK's country manager, says: ‘We are hugely excited to partner with LAMDA to support and train young actors. At Audible we are honoured to work with the world's finest actors, and we are passionate about nurturing the next generation of talent. Now we look forward to working with LAMDA to inspire and train today's most promising young actors and to bring new voices to our global audience of listeners.’
Marquee.TV: launch of new streaming service for the arts
A new streaming platform for arts and culture has been launched across the UK, US and Canada.
Marquee.TV allows users to stream a catalogue of dance, opera, music, theatre and documentary content. Available on iOS and Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Smart TVs for £8.99 per month, the platform aims to follow the success of services like Netflix in attracting diverse audiences.
The platform has partnered with international cultural broadcasters such as Opus Arte, who supply productions from the Globe Theatre, Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne. It offers on-demand content from productions of contemporary and classic works, including those that are still currently showing and touring.
Simon Walker, co-founder and CEO, said: ‘The Marquee.TV philosophy is all about giving audiences the chance to take risks with what they watch and explore something they might not otherwise see, when time, finances, and opportunity are scarce. Yes, our content includes the classics and some of the world's most critically acclaimed performances, but we're also driving our audiences to the new.
‘Marquee will be a home for the freshest, most innovative, most adventurous performances around. Marquee.TV makes it possible for the ‘culturally curious’ to sample and experience the performances they're reading about from around the world, whenever and wherever they want.'
The service is planned to roll out globally in 2019.
Guildhall appoints new vice-principal and director of drama
The Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD) has appointed Orla O'Loughlin as its new vice principal and director of Drama. O'Loughlin is currently the chief executive and artistic director at Traverse Theatre, where she has been since 2012, and will take up the position at GSMD in January 2019.
GSMD's principal, Lynn Williams said: ‘We are very excited that Orla will be coming to join us as Vice Principal and Director of Drama. By appointing Orla, the Guildhall School is not only gaining a world-class theatre practitioner but an expert in nurturing new dramatic writing, generating cross-disciplinary work and developing playwrights, directors and actors. This is an exciting step for the School as we look to diversify our drama programme offer, and to explore the potential of working with new partners across the industry, including the Traverse Theatre.’
In addition to Traverse Theatre, O'Loughlin has previously worked at the Donmar Warehouse and the National Theatre and her work as a freelance director includes productions at the Young Vic, West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Royal Court Theatre and Hampstead Theatre. She also has a history of teaching experience, having completed a PGCE in between her BA in Theatre and Contemporary Performance at the University of Warwick and her MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at Central School of Speech and Drama. Her work saw her named one of The Observer's top 50 UK cultural leaders.
With regards to her new appointment, O'Loughlin said: ‘I am thrilled to be joining Principal Lynne Williams and the brilliant team at the Guildhall School as Vice Principal and Director of Drama. Theatre and education have always been my dual passions and I am delighted that I will be able to unite them at such a prestigious and progressive organisation. Reimagining the future of drama training and ensuring that all who pass through the Guildhall are well equipped to lead the coming change is an exciting opportunity I can't wait to begin alongside my world-leading colleagues.'
Mousetrap's Family First Nights celebrates 20 years
Mousetrap Theatre Projects' (MTP) ‘Family First Nights’ is now in its 20th year. The programme happens every summer and offers cheap theatre tickets to disadvantaged families who are looking to visit the theatre for the first time, with prices starting from just £6. Over the past two decades, over 10,000 families have benefited from the scheme, seeing shows such as The Gruffalo Live, Les Misérables and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Susan Whiddington, MTP director, says: ‘Family First Nights is one of MTP's core access programmes and what makes it very special is that we stay in touch with these families and send them a huge range of additional offers throughout the year to theatre, dance, opera, concerts and special events – and the take-up is terrific!'
This year's programme will run from 23 July to 28 August, with 34 productions made available to families, including Wicked, Mr Stink and the BBC Prom's West Side Story. There are a number of additional ways for families to get involved with theatre, including free workshops, access performances, meet and greets, and free books for families who attend at least five shows.
As part of the 20 year celebrations, MTP is also running an art competition, to be judged by beloved children's book illustrators Tony Ross and Nick Sharatt. Ross is best known for his Horrid Henry series and Sharatt is Jacqueline Wilson's long-term collaborator, having illustrated over 40 of her books. Children are asked to submit artwork that depicts the magic of family theatregoing and is open to anyone who is participating in the programme this year, as well as past participants.
One such past participant was Melanie Bright, now a West End star, who went to see Blood Brothers with her mum during the initial Family First Nights: ‘I decided there and then that like those actors, I wanted to make people feel things; to hold a mirror up to society and say, this could/has/will happen. I told myself that my working class roots would not hold me back, and I knew I would make the most of any chances I got.’
For more details, visit the Family First Nights website at tinyurl.com/td-au1-mttp