April 2023
27 April - Culture Recovery Fund saved hundreds of organisations
The government’s emergency support package helped funded organisations stay afloat, attract new audiences and continue to support employees and freelancers.
26 April - Simon Rattle is right: Britain is becoming a cultural desert – and that’s a political choice
The arts and classical music say much about us as a country. Labour should fight for their place in our national life
26 April - The Freelancers' Arts Council
‘For the freelancers’ crisis to be solved, and for the UK’s performing arts industry to survive in anything like its current form, radical action is needed, soon.’ – Paul Carey Jones on the need for a ‘Freelancers’ Arts Council’
25 April - Stage Directors UK to become trade union in 'historic' moment for sector
Members body Stage Directors UK has received approval to become a trade union, in a move it said would help build a “more resilient” theatre sector in the UK and improve working conditions for creatives.
24 April - Creative industries must address skills gap
The perception of the creative industries must change to attract the next generation of talent and to unlock potential growth, said Sir Peter Bazalgette in an address to the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) last week.
21 April - Lizzie Annis: theatre has 'collective responsibility' to under-represented voices
Actor Lizzie Annis has said it is “vital” to showcase disabled actors and creators, claiming the sector has a “collective responsibility” to ensure that under-represented voices are heard.
21 April - Campaign aims to boost recruitment of young creative talent
New initiative asks cultural organisations to pledge one training or entry level role each year to boost early career opportunities for producers and creators.
19 April - Bodycams and security: theatres ramp up efforts to tackle unruly audiences
One of the UK’s biggest theatre operators is fitting senior staff in its venues with bodycams and has revealed an increasing reliance on security staff to evict disruptive audience members, as it attempts to tackle a rise in antisocial behaviour.
18 April - Creatives, the ‘show must go on’ mindset is damaging for our health
During Covid, actor Michael Lambourne was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now in remission and preparing to run the London Marathon, he warns that the ‘show must go on’ mentality is damaging creatives’ mental health
17 April - Why are British audiences so out of control?
From fights at the Bodyguard musical to wild drunken antics at comedy clubs and even heckling at the opera, performers and theatre staff say crowds are getting out of hand. What’s going on?
17 April - Why are disabled people asked to work for nothing?
In a survey of disabled arts professionals, Unlimited found 87% had been asked to do something for nothing. Lucy Peters asks Jo Verrent: When will the sector stop exploiting disabled creatives and acknowledge their value?
13 April - Ukrainian orchestra’s key members refused visas to play in UK
Promoter claims ‘catastrophe’ has cost it more than £88k and accuses British government of hypocrisy
13 April - BBC to explore alternatives to proposed orchestra cuts
Broadcaster agrees to explore alternatives to proposed 20% cut to roles at the BBC Symphony, Concert and Philharmonic orchestras.
13 April - German band may have been refused UK entry ‘because they have day jobs’
Post-Brexit rules on touring under fire as it emerges Trigger Cut may have been turned away due to not being full-time musicians
12 April - Arts Council Northern Ireland warns of 10% cuts
Expected cuts to the 2023-24 Northern Ireland budget, which are still to be announced by NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, have prompted ACNI to contact organisations in receipt of annual funding.
12 April - Anti-social behaviour in theatres ‘at tipping point’
Theatre workers share examples of abuse and harassment from audiences as union BECTU launches campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour.
12 April - Freelancers need a support system – and it’s time the sector provided one
After 22 years in this sector, this month I attained peak freelancing.
I recently completed this year’s Big Freelancer Survey (if you are a freelancer, please do it). I then received a flurry of self-tape auditions, which requires a particular kind of resourcefulness and resilience.
12 April - English National Opera to get further £24m from ACE
Arts Council England sets aside further £24m for English National Opera on the proviso it establishes a ‘primary base’ outside London by 2026.
11 April - Talent drain: four former theatre workers on why they left the industry
Since the start of the pandemic, organisations including union BECTU have warned of the “existential threat” posed to theatre by a mass exodus of talent from the sector. The Stage spoke to four former theatre workers about the reasons they left the industry – including low pay and burnout – and what the sector could do to retain talent.
11 April - Dominic Dromgoole: Return to pre-Brexit global touring could take 40 years
It could be 40 years before the UK’s international theatre scene thrives as it did pre-Brexit, former Shakespeare’s Globe artistic director Dominic Dromgoole has warned.
5 April - Brexit has 'terribly damaged' opera – Olivier winners
Brexit has done “terrible damage” to opera and curtailed the careers of British singers, who are being forced to turn down roles in Europe, creatives have claimed.
5 April - Christina McKelvie becomes new Scottish culture minister
Christina McKelvie has been appointed Scotland’s Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development by new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.
5 April - Why filling in this year’s Big Freelancer Survey will help theatre workers be seen
The Big Freelancer Survey has played a crucial role in helping theatre workers be seen and supported since the pandemic began. Paule Constable examines why it is vital that freelancers take part again and demand change
4 April - Visa system needs urgent reform to ensure global standing of UK's creative industries
Without urgent reform there is a danger our creative industries – once the envy of the world – won’t be able to access the talent needed to thrive at a time when the sector should be booming, says Eliza Easton.
3 April - Jodie Comer: Drama school isn't the only route to acting
Jodie Comer has urged young people not to be deterred from a career in acting if they haven’t trained at drama school
3 April - Norwich Theatre boosts pay for staff as it commits to 'real living wage'
Norwich Theatre has committed to paying its employees the real living wage, meaning an average pay increase of 10% for eligible staff