Across the sector, freelancers face real uncertainty about if and how they will be able to continue to work in theatre.
70% of people who work in theatre and performance in the UK are freelance or self-employed, and it’s for this workforce, in all its diversity and complexity, that the impact of the current situation is most acute.
Along with arts organisations and venues across the nation PDSW are supporting the Freelance Task Force, which began as an Open Letter to Theatre and Performance Makers.
If you missed it, you can read more here.
PDSW reached out to their network to find someone who would have the capacity, commitment and capability to take part and share the learning back to both our organisations and we can announce we’ll be supporting Natasha Player as a Freelance Task Force representative.
We commit to both supporting Natasha Player, and implementing the learning within our organisation and as part of the wider network. We’ll share information about the learning and action as it develops.
The purpose of the task force is to strengthen the influence of the self-employed theatre and performance community. It would create ongoing points of connection between freelancers and organisations, and amplify the voice of the self-employed in the conversations to come.
- Create ongoing points of connection between independent creatives, organisations, funders and government
- Amplify the voices of the self-employed in urgent conversations about the survival and future of UK theatre and performance
- Commit the sector to long-term meaningful change and better representation
Natasha is already reaching out to the community of freelancers within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas and beyond.
Hear from Natasha directly, about her involvement and how you can contact her.
I feel honoured to have been sponsored by Pavilion Dance South West as an independent #freelancetaskforce member with the aim to reach out to fellow freelancers working in the theatre and performance industry. I am here to hear their concerns on how the past few months and the unknown future is impacting on their work and future livelihood.
We are part of a national taskforce and along with a South West regional network of members, I can feedback the collective concerns to the national taskforce campaign. I will share lobbying developments, act as an information exchange and support the local & national campaign to create recognisable change for freelancers.
Wondering if that is you?
Calling freelance professional dance artists, theatre makers, technicians, photographers, choreographers, directors, producers, set designers, video makers, photographers, musicians, writers; Any freelance creative involved in the process of creating performance in usual and unusual spaces and places.
The time is to ACT NOW whilst decisions are being made at national level.
Write to your local MP via twitter or a letter. There is no right or wrong way, a letter spoken from the heart or a few lines on twitter helps us shout louder
Choose to sign up for more info by emailing hello@natashaplayer.co.uk
If you are interested in signing up and live outside of BCP and Dorset, I can sign post you to your local representative and happy to be your first point of contact.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Best wishes
Natasha