The 2023 tour of Hamlet played to over 7,700 young people from over 100 different schools throughout England. Photo: Shutterstock.
Equity’s Class Network, which was set up to fight for representation of working class people in the arts, is gathering support from across the creative sector after discovering that the National Theatre would cease to provide its primary touring programme going forward.
The programme was aimed at giving primary school aged children their first experience of live theatre, as well as providing work opportunities for young creatives.
The National Theatre has recently faced funding cuts
The National Theatre, like so many other arts organisations, has recently faced cuts to its Arts Council England funding.
However, it is still due to receive over £16m per year up until 2026 and generated total income for the year to 31 March 2024 of £121.4m.
The cost of running the Primary Theatre Touring Programme represents a tiny fraction of this amount.
Cutting the programme will deprive some children of their only experience of live theatre
MU Assistant General Secretary Phil Kear said “Cutting the programme will deprive school children from working-class backgrounds of potentially their only experience of live theatre.
"Children who might have been inspired by that very experience to follow a future career in the creative industries.
"The programme was also responsible for providing work opportunities for young creatives from diverse communities. Opportunities that will now no longer exist. Its discontinuation presents a double whammy for the future lifeblood of the creative industries.”
Read the Equity Class Network statement
The campaign has also been highlighted in The Stage - you can read the story by creating a free account.