Like everyone in the arts industry right now, I’m terrified about the future. That being said, I’m immensely proud of the spirit and resilience of the community that has welcomed me and changed my life for the better in a multitude of ways, big and small. I want it to be able to continue to do that, for me and everyone else who considers this industry a space they treasure. So, it’s my pleasure to tell everyone about a new protest organised by Norfolk based theatre practitioner Paul Andrew Goldsmith and London based creative Jess Carter: The Creative Performance Protest.
The protest is a nationwide response to the Government’s failure to support the industry and its thousands of employees during the pandemic, with the aim of encouraging people from outside the arts to understand and talk about their situation, and highlight what a world without the arts in all its forms would be like.
Scheduled to coincide with the timing of the protest in Trafalgar Square (https://www.canyouhearthepeoplesing.co.uk/), on July 11th from midday, the following will be happening:
- Performers, creatives and supporters will socially distance outside venues (please confirm with them they are happy for you to do so)
- Within a small designated area, perform a brief moment from a monologue, a line from a song, a joke, or anything you choose. This will remain unfinished and end in silence, bowing the head.
- These “performances” will be live streamed or recorded and posted across social media platforms and recorded to add to national video snippets of the campaign
- Performances posted will include the hashtags #creativeperformanceprotest and #canyouhearthepeoplesing
- Donations to help the venues are welcome, as are banners, tshirts, anything to attract attention!
Now, if you cannot attend on the day, fear not, you can “perform” at a time that suits you. Myself I need to wait and see where the Bristol contingent of the protest will be gathering (I hope to have more details soon) to see if I can make logistics work. If I can’t make it, you can bet I’ll be brushing up a line from my favourite Shakespeare play and recording from home…
If you’d like to keep up to date, head on over to the Facebook group, follow @OurTheatres/@pgoldsmith1 on Twitter, or goldburr on Instagram!
Wheelie Stagey 