West End professionals are threatening strike action if their campaign for improvements within the industry is not addressed. The trade union Equity, which represents those in the arts and entertainment in the UK, is campaigning for a 17% pay rise among other requests. The #StandUpFor17 Campaign Equity wants to make “radical improvements, to work, rest, […]
Two musical and artistic experts are continuing their endeavour to make opera in the UK more diverse and accessible. Alison Buchanan is currently the only Black British female Artistic Director in the UK, and is joined by contemporary Simone Ibbett-Brown, who is a freelance performer and theatre maker, currently producing a concert that celebrates the […]
The Diversify The Stage community rolled out their DTS Inclusion Initiative on November 30th, 2021. Goal of this initiative is to make room for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and others who traditionally have faced trouble breaking into the entertainment industry and especially into the music touring industry.
Angelica Ross makes Broadway history as the first trans woman to play a lead role in Chicago, as Roxie Hart. Ross joins a small group who have performed major roles on Broadway as trans actors. Best known for her commercial music releases, and for previous roles in Pose and American Horror Story, 41-year old Angelica […]
A call for more women over 45 years old has been issued via a campaign by British actors. An open letter with over 100 actors and public figures has gained traction and support for the campaign, which outlines the problems the industry is still facing with representation. The open letter The Acting Your Age Campaign […]
Since Broadway has returned, the theatre industry has been attempting to create a better environment that is more equitable for all. To help with this, Tony Award voter committee members will now be required to complete an unconscious bias training session, according to BroadwayWorld. Committee members will have to complete the Exploring Unconscious Bias course with Vernā Myers, an inclusion strategist, before March 1.
The Golden Globes 2022 nominees have been announced amid controversy from recent years affecting the ceremony with NBC pulling the broadcast.
Yemberzal are the first all-women Sufiyana music group in Indian-administered Kashmir. Despite being a male-dominated tradition and receiving ongoing negative feedback, the group is going from strength-to-strength inspiring women and keeping this dying tradition alive.
A story stranger than fiction has come to light as acclaimed Spanish author Carmen Mola is revealed to be the pseudonym of three men. Mola’s books in the thriller genre have become extremely popular in the literary world for their controversial and gory content. The pseudonym reveal The news was revealed as ‘Carmen Mola’ won […]
Black Lives in Music are a collective who are “standing on the frontline of diversity in jazz and classical music”. As the UK celebrates Black History Month in October, we wanted to highlight the work that is being done to support musicians. Black Lives in Music use data and insights to campaign for equity by […]
On Sunday, September 26, the long-awaited 74th Annual Tony Awards aired, promising a new theatre industry that is equitable and accountable. Showing a triumphant return to Broadway, the two-part ceremony was to celebrate an industry gone from a year and a half. In that year and a half, however, social change begun. The insurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement made its way to the Great White Way, which has been telling its many workers that big change is coming to the industry, and that it will come out as a better Broadway. But was that reflected at the awards ceremony?
The world has changed. A global pandemic, the rise of Black Lives Matter and social justice movements, and the intensifying climate crisis have altered how we live and work. This includes the theatrical industry. These changes, however, have been happening while theaters have been closed. It’s been an opportunity for us to reflect and look critically at our own industry. As live performance returns, it is crucial that theatre makers address how these issues affect our process of theatre making. We are re-opening in a new era, it’s not the world of 2019, this is 2021.
An open letter to Playbill has been released by a national network of theatre workers in the USA, requesting that clear rates of pay are required on all jobs. The organisations are gathering signatures of support in ensuring Playbill’s job site embraces pay transparency.
The 2020 Emmy Awards have proved to be a historic year for BIPOC; not only were more Black actors nominated for awards, but there was also an increase in winners across categories as well as overall diversity.
This is my first time producing and directing in London, and I’m seeing theatrical possibilities at places like the King’s Head that we simply don’t have in the States. There seems to be a whole culture of theatre pubs that I would love to transplant to the US. An influx of scrappy venues with intimate configurations would be a great resource for theatremakers.
At some point of a dancer’s professional career, the big questions arise. Do I need to join a performers’ union? Why would I? Why would I not join? What are the benefits? Is it better to remain a non-union dancer? All dancers form their own opinions regarding unions on their own time, as they cultivate their professional careers. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions; the answer is personal, as different dancers have individual goals and priorities. It is a good idea to get informed before setting goals and making career decisions. Let’s explore…
Being a professional dancer involves much more than just dance. Higher profile jobs that most dancers wish to obtain involve contracts to be signed by the performer; some of which that are “union” contracts. Being a professional dancer involves much more than just dance. High profile jobs that most dancers wish to obtain involve contracts to be signed by the performer; some of which that are “union” contracts. There are a handful of labor unions that involve and protect dancers. Labor unions, in general, are centered around bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for union members. The unions will usually aggressively support members in any dispute involving alleged violations of contractual provisions.
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