A UK charity campaign has raised a total of £3.9m to aid theatre workers and freelancers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre launched the Theatre Artists Fund last summer to provide financial support to those in need who have been unable to work since March 16. Theatres were shut to curb the spread of the disease during the lockdown.
Spearheaded by English film and stage director Sam Mendes, and supported by Netflix, The Estate of Sir Peter and Lady Saunders, Art Council England, private donors and public fundraising, this fund gives theatre workers and freelancers financial relief.
English film and stage director Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes spearheads the campaign. (Image credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
“The grant is a lifeline. It allows me to still survive this with my family and hopefully do all I can to protect them until our industry opens successfully again,” youth and stage manager CJ Mitchell said.
About 290,000 people are employed in the theatre industry and almost 70 per cent of those are freelancers, according to a survey conducted before the first lockdown by Bectu, an entertainment and media union in the UK.
Around 5,000 theatre industry workers have lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic. And 97 per cent of creative freelancers think the government is failing to respond to their concerns during the outbreak, a Bectu survey in March of over 5600 people has found.
The Government unveiled a £1.57 billion rescue package for Britain’s museum, galleries and theatres amid the pandemic period in July.
However, general secretary of performers’ union Christine Payne said those creative workers cannot be left behind. He added: “If this investment does not reach creative workers, we risk the diversity and success of the wider creative industries — worth £112bn to the economy.”
Theatres in the UK were mainly closed during both Covid-related lockdowns in spring and autumn.
But even during the time when they were permitted to work — partly in summer and autumn — their operations were affected by new requirements, including reduced venue capacity and limited tickets.
The grant is a lifeline for theatre professionals who are in need of urgent and emergency financial support. Applicants can be considered for an emergency grant of £1,000 if they meet the Theatre Artists Fund’s eligibility criteria.
They need to provide one form of proof and contact details of a theatre professional to act. The details are up to 5 professional role/s or job/s that have been done between 1 January 2019 and 31st March 2020. Grants will be awarded according to the hardship level.
Applicants who have previously received a grant from the Theatre Artists Fund or any other financial supporting groups can re-apply. However, this will not guarantee them further support.
In a recent survey conducted by the grant beneficiaries, 85 per cent of participants said the grant helped them pay their bills, mortgage or rent.
British Nigerian actor, performer and director Femi Elufowoju Jr., whose stage work has been featured in many famous theatres, has benefited from the fund.
Elufowoju Jr. has made notable television appearances, including on the BBC comedy series Little Miss Jocelyn, serial dramas Moses Jones, Wire in the Blood and Borgen.(Image credit: OWL Artist Management)
“The grant itself has proved invaluable,” he said. “It is an invaluable contribution to my living costs, for outstanding utility bills and family sustenance so it’s been an enormous respite despite the odds that we face daily.”
Sam Mendes, who is the driving force behind the fund, admits that while his brainchild has “enabled us to move fast in response to the urgent need that is out there amongst freelancers and self-employed theatre artists”, “the situation is still desperate and many more still need help.”
The latest round of application closed on November 20. More eligibility criteria and application information can be learned from the Theatre Artists Fund.