Interview on Performers + Covid...

“a lot of the shows we produce tend to be musicals and they tend to have some local performers but the majority tend to be based around the UK so it would require accommodation - theatre digs”

“private landlords who might just cancel on you last minute”

“there is a callout to Equity to look at producers and companies supporting performers with booking accommodation”

“all of a sudden digs disappeared so it wasn’t even a case of not being able to book digs, most people that had a spare room didn’t want a strange person in their house either, from a COVID point of view”

“there’s a lot of deprivation immediately, there’s a lot of regeneration so its where two worlds collide... access to the arts, especially musical theatre, is a privilege, there’s not a lot of families that can afford it... we launched the theatre school very much with it being in mind that 50% of the places are completely free for the local children”

“Manchester is the victim at the moment of a huge import in money, investment, regeneration, its like we’re outpricing artists out of the city centre”

“I think that’s something we’ve learnt over the pandemic is that the arts and escapism, education, changing people’s perceptions of humanity through art is a really good thing and it does work”

Hope Mill Theatre.

What is Hope Mill Theatre and what do they do?

History

Hope Mill Theatre is a cotton mill dating from 1824, which was redeveloped in 2001 and now houses a range of creative industries including Hope Mill Theatre.

The Theatre

The theatre opened in 2015 and has since become one of the most successful and reputable independent venues in England. They have an affordable theatre school that promotes inclusivity and the benefits of theatre. Their mission statement is to “enrich, educate and entertain our community by providing a uniquely superior theatre experience; allowing both audiences and artists alike to be inspired, ambitious and to share stores and enlighten lives through the power of theatre.”

Collaboration

With my project being situated next to the theatre, it brings opportunities to collaborate with them. There could be physical connections to the theatre such as shared entrances, as well community initiatives like the taxi scheme, or affordable performances.