Theatre Can Change Campaign – Plain Language Version:
Freelancers Make Theatre Work listens to freelance workers in the performing arts. We share freelancers’ concerns, questions and hopes for the performing arts. We want the performing arts industry after COVID to be better for everyone. We do not want freelancers to have to sacrifice to build back the arts industry.
In May theatres in Scotland and England will reopen. We want to launch a social media campaign. We will use twitter and instagram to make freelancer’s voices louder as theatres reopen.
Some freelancers have returned to work and some will return to work. For other freelancers returning to work feels difficult or unlikely. We have been hearing upsetting stories of freelancers returning to work and being treated poorly.
We want to hear your experiences so that we can share them. We want to make sure freelancers do not feel alone. We also want to learn from freelancers’ experiences. Over the last year we have worked together to make the performing arts better, fairer and less confusing. We want to keep doing this.
How does it work?
You will send us your story.
A small group of people will read the stories and write something that explain several of the stories. No one will know that you sent us a story.
We will then share this writing on social media. We hope freelancers will also share this writing. You can share as much or as little as you want to.
Why should I get involved?
Over the past year, we have heard many similar stories about freelancers being treated badly. We want to share these stories and share that they are not okay. On our own it’s hard to challenge poor working conditions. Together we are strong. Hopefully we can stop these kinds of experiences.
Please complete the attached Google Form.
Record your story as a voice note or video and send it to hello@FreelancersMakeTheatreWork.com stating THEATRE CAN CHANGE in the subject line, where one of the team will write out your story and remove your name.
Or, get in touch if you would prefer to have a short with some of the freelancers from FMTW.
Please note, no statement will be attributable to any individual freelancer.
Everyone is welcome to submit. No issue is too small, every story is a step towards a better future.
Can you give some examples?
A freelancer submits the following experience:
‘Over the past few months I have been involved in a number of auditions. I was recently recalled twice and received really positive feedback from the directors. After a year of not working I was really excited about maybe getting back to work. I waited a week and did not hear anything from the team, I didn’t want to email in case they were busy or had other things to arrange but was desperate to hear. That evening I saw the cast announcement on Instagram. It was really upsetting. I might not have got the part but they could have at least told me instead of finding out online.
Our team create the statement:
Let us know if we didn’t get the job. It’s fine. We understand. But finding out on social media hurts.
This statement is shared on social media by FMTW and members of the team.
Others join in, the Tweet is seen by the industry and used to hold those choosing to do this to account.
A freelancer submits the following experience:
I have been asked to prep for a job without being paid. It will be at least one weeks work but I feel like I can’t say no as any work right now is better than no work. Normally this prep would be part of the contract but I think that we are being asked to do it for free to save money. I don’t know what to do for the best? I don’t want to normalise this but I need the money.
Our team create two statements:
Freelancers are not volunteers. It’s our job. You wouldn’t do half of your job with no pay, don’t expect us to.
Don’t let Freelancers pay for the recovery of our industry. Many of us have been without an income and we can’t afford to be paid less so you earn more
How do I share my story?
Please complete the attached Google Form.
Record your experience as a voice note or video and send to hello@FreelancersMakeTheatreWork.com stating THEATRE CAN CHANGE in the subject line, where one of the team will transcribe and anonymise your statement.
Or, get in touch if you would prefer to have a short chat with some freelancers from the team if you feel your experience is more nuanced and requires a little more thinking.
Please note, no statement will be attributable to any individual freelancer.
This is a sector wide campaign so we welcome submissions from all freelancers across the workforce. No issue is too small, every change we name is a step towards a better future.