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Skills and Development Working Group

Skills and Development Working Group

SOLT and UK Theatre's working group guides our response to skills and development issues affecting the sector.

SOLT and UK Theatre’s 2017 Workforce Review indicated that the theatre industry faces a range of long-term skills and training challenges.

These issues relate to skills shortages, a lack of in-career training and development, poor support for freelance staff, high barriers to entry and poorly signposted routes into the sector. Research indicates that many of these issues have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

UK Theatre and SOLT’s ambition is to implement a range of skills and development initiatives to nurture the future workforce and support and invest in the current workforce. Our aim is to ensure that the appropriate skills and expertise are in place to allow the theatre and performing arts workforce to thrive for many years to come.

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Download the Terms of Reference
The working group has been formed to:
  • Guide the SOLT and UK Theatre Boards on development and delivery of a skills and development strategy for the sector
  • Help shape SOLT and UK Theatre’s response to skills and development issues, providing support in the implementation of any relevant initiatives
  • Ensure that initiatives involve the input of those directly affected by the challenges each project is addressing
  • Help assess the current gaps in training and development provision provided by the industry
  • Advise on prioritisation of projects
  • Provide sector input into SOLT and UK Theatre’s public affairs work in this area

 The working group makes recommendations for solutions to the SOLT and UK Theatre Boards.

The current working group members were appointed in March 2022. 

  • Bendy Ashfield, Theatre People
  • Grant Barden, Welsh National Opera
  • Gareth Booker, Shaftesbury Theatre
  • Gary Briggs, Manchester International Festival
  • Kate Denby, Northern Stage
  • Carolyn ML Forsyth, Talawa Theatre
  • Greg Jauncey, Theatre People
  • Janthi Mills-Ward, Hull Truck Theatre
  • Patrick Murphy, Global Creatures
  • Amy Smith, Unicorn Theatre
  • Lyndsey Turner, Freelance Theatre Director
  • Kate Varah, National Theatre
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Get in touch

32 Rose Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9ET

+44 (0)20 7557 6700

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"UK Theatre" is the operating name of UK Theatre Association, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at 32 Rose Street, London, WC2E 9ET, Company No 323204.