Over half of the theatre musicians surveyed were not eligible for the Government’s Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Photo credit: Shutterstock
The initial results of our survey painted a concerning picture for the UK’s Theatre industry.
A quarter of those musicians surveyed, answered that they were in immediate financial hardship – with that number tripling when asked if they felt they would be in financial hardship later in the year if they aren’t able to return to work.
The survey also revealed that 83% of respondents whose work has been postponed due to COVID-19 have not been given a restart date.
Over half of the theatre musicians surveyed expressed that they are not eligible for the Government’s Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) – pointing to the need for urgent change to protect all musicians.
Take action now
It’s not just theatre musicians who look likely to fall through the cracks of government support, more than a third of musicians are likely to miss out on Government support, according to our research.
Ask the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to protect all self-employed workers, and ensure no musician is left behind.
You can use our template letter if you're not sure what to say. Remember to include how you are affected too. Personal stories make all the difference.
Write to Rishi now, see our advice on how.