AGM & Annual Review 2021

The AGM and Annual Review is a key event in UK Theatre's calendar where we reflect on the issues facing the sector over the last year, and highlight the work we have done for our members during that period. In previous years we have used this as an opportunity to meet and network with other member colleagues, but due to the pandemic we held the event online in 2021. 

The most recent AGM and Annual Review took place online on Wednesday 3rd November 2021, and was open to all our members. The Annual Review is now available to view for anyone who was not able to attend, and the deck is available to download. 

Annual Review 2021

• Download the Annual Review of 2021 presentation here.
• Watch the recording of the Annual Review 2021 on our YouTube channel, here.

Some key points from the AGM & Annual Review 2021

AGM

• Fiona Allan stepped down as President of UK Theatre a year before the expiry of her term of office, as she is leaving the Birmingham Hippodrome for a new role at Opera Australia.

• Vice-President Stephanie Sirr assumed the role of President as she is already the current Vice President.

• From the 2022 AGM, for a 3-year term, Stephanie and Jon Gilchrist will be Joint Presidents for the first time in UK Theatre’s history. Read more here.

• Board Members, Philip Bearnays, Chris Glover, Brenna Hobson, Karen Pimbley, Julia Potts, and Despina Tsatsas left the board. 

• Eleanor Lang, Executive Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East became the newest Board Member. 

Annual Review

• Ten responses submitted to Westminster parliamentary consultations.

• All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) - four sessions for MPs held on issues relating to the impact of Covid, Local Authority support, and sustainability.

• Theatre Artists Fund - created in 2020 to provide emergency support for theatre workers and freelance professionals - fundraised £7.8 million, with over 8,200 grants issued. 

• Produced an Inclusive Recruitment Guide in March 2021 which has already had 3,650 downloads. 

• Maintained our Diversity and Inclusion resource library which has received 3,930 unique page views. 

• Launched the #10Principles for safe and inclusive workplaces in theatre supported by 22 industry bodies.  Download your free poster here.

• Since the beginning of COVID-19, we’ve conducted a series of mental health & wellbeing webinars for managers and workers, with an audience of 374 live participants and 331 views of the recorded event. Watch the free webinars here.

• UK Theatre’s mental health and wellbeing resource library has reached 4,700 unique page views.

• We commissioned the Remote Working Toolkit in partnership with PiPA to provide guidance for members interested in developing new hybrid working policies. It has had 1,360 downloads since July 2021. 

• In response to COVID-19, we created and ran Covid Safety courses, completing 49 sessions in total and training over 700 people. 

• Over 500 venues have signed up to the industry wide #SeeItSafely campaign aimed at offering reassurance for audiences and consistency of experience following the latest government and performing arts guidance.  

• On 16th March SOLT and UK Theatre coordinated a nationwide social media campaign on the anniversary of theatre closures to generate press and highlight the issues impacting the sector and raise funds for #TheatreArtistsFund. #16March was trending in England all day with 6000+ tweets. 

• On 1st September theatres across the country came together to launch the Autumn season using #BackOnStage. By the end of September 2021 there were over 22,000 relevant uses of the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram. 

• We’ll continue to work on our interim Business Plan in 2022, with highlights including the recruitment of a Data Analyst to help us make a stronger case to government, a review of our training provision, and in-person Conferences and Awards.