1. Why do most English Theatre companies avoid paying their cast and crew for their time, labour, and talent?
Rehearsals usually take place over a period of a few months, at least 2-3 hrs a day. And yet, majority of theatre companies in Colombo DO NOT pay their actors or crew.
Rehearsals usually take place over a period of a few months, at least 2-3 hrs a day. And yet, majority of theatre companies in Colombo DO NOT pay their actors or crew.
2. Theatre companies would ordinarily set aside an exorbitant budget for sets, costumes, props, scripts, and cast parties. So why don’t they pay the talent?
Wouldn’t you think the cast and crew is the most important feature of a show? Can you run a show without them?
Wouldn’t you think the cast and crew is the most important feature of a show? Can you run a show without them?
3. The “love of theatre” is such a loaded, problematic phrase. Companies use it to manipulate their cast & crew into exerting their labour and talent to fulfil their “passion” and individual interests outside their daily job. But what if acting and stage work is their daily job?
4. When productions have sponsors and expensive tickets bringing in big sums of money, why are cast and crew members expected to use their own resources and income? Why are they not compensated for their time and efforts?
5. Theatre companies also expect actors to refrain from auditioning or performing if they’re asking for compensation. They are asked to bare it for the — you guessed it — “love of theatre.”
6. As a result, actors that do it as a profession are forced to pick up other paying jobs, while the more privileged actors end up getting casted in these productions.
7. So why does this happen? Is it because there are enough actors that are willing to do the job and remain unpaid? Why don’t such companies value their talent?
8. Are company accounts transparent? Are profits shared? Why aren’t profits shared? Why aren't these fees essential enough to be in a budget?
9. Theatre should be accessible and sustainable to performers from every single background. By opening these financial doors, the accessibility that actors will have and the quality of talent that can emerge from the pressure we put on such companies will be remarkable.
10. For too long, English theatre companies have gotten away without paying their cast and crew members. For too long, we have seen the arts industry and its cast and crew members progress at a snail's pace.
11. If you really “love theatre”, wouldn’t you want to see it grow and flourish in an ethical way?
Would you work anywhere today without any pay? Can you? Especially now, during tough financial times in the country.
Would you work anywhere today without any pay? Can you? Especially now, during tough financial times in the country.
12. If you’re a paying audience member, find out if payments are made to the cast and crew.
If you’re an actor/crew member, find out if you and your colleagues are compensated.
If you’re an actor/crew member, find out if you and your colleagues are compensated.
13. If you're a company, practice paying your cast and crew. Put aside some money as you would do for everything else in your show. Isn't it the right thing to do?
Break a leg.
Break a leg.
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