My Theatre Matters!
Equity, The Stage and UK Theatre launched a major public-facing campaign in 2013 aimed at supporting local theatres across the UK. It is open to all theatres, not just UK Theatre Members.
Working with sponsors Cog Design, John Good and Tincan, other supporting organisations so far include ABTT, BECTU, Charcoalblue, Creu Cymru, Dance UK, Dramanic, ITC, Mobius, Musicians Union, National Operatic and Dramatic Association, Nimax Theatres, Opera and Music Theatre Forum, SOLT, Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, St Paul's Church Covent Garden, Theatres Trust, Unison, Writers Guild of Great Britain and What's on Stage.
My Theatre Matters! aims:
1. To provide support for UK theatres to encourage them to mobilise their audiences to voice their support for their local venue, particularly to local government Members and officers.
2. To develop a national database of concerned audience members who could be mobilised for further action locally, regionally or nationally.
The most immediate serious threat to theatres in the UK is significant cuts in Local Government funding. Local Authorities are under extreme pressure and are being faced with extremely hard choices, but it is imperative that they understand how much their voters value their local theatre.
We know current and past audiences have strong emotional capital in their local venues, but do not necessarily understand the importance of public funding in keeping them open, affordable, and delivering high quality education and outreach work.
This campaign provides theatres with the tools to help inform their audiences and turn them into advocates with local Council Leaders, as well as adding their support to an on-going national campaign that will reach a crescendo at the next UK General Election.
Audience Members are asked to do two things:
1. Send a postcard to their Council Leader saying how much they value the Council’s investment in their local theatre
2. Sign up to the national campaign website with their email address and postcode so they can be contacted again in the future about issues in their own area, further afield or nationally.
We can provide any theatre or venue that is interested in the campaign with a range of supporting materials including postcards, posters, collection boxes, pin badges and stickers.