Theatre APPG

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Theatre

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Theatre was founded in July 2019 to support the resilience and relevance of theatre in the UK for audiences, its workforce and society.

The APPG’s Statement of Purpose is to:

Support the resilience and relevance of theatre in the UK for audiences, society and the industry
Identify and debate potential opportunities and issues for theatre in the UK
Support parliamentarians' understanding of theatre and the performing arts industry at a national and local level

Theatre is part of the creative industries, which are the fastest growing part of the UK’s economy, contributing over £101 billion in Gross Value Added. In 2018, the theatre industry saw audiences of over 34m with ticket revenue of nearly £1.28bn, from a total of 62,945 performances across the UK.

The cross-party group is led by Giles Watling, Conservative MP for Clacton.

UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre (SOLT) are the secretariat of the APPG for Theatre, providing organisational, staff time and strategic support. They will also bring together a group of theatre organisations from across the UK to act as a sounding board and help ensure that a wide range of theatre topics and issues are suggested for the APPG to look into.

APPG for Theatre members will take part in visits to theatres. These visits, organised by the APPG, will be in order to help educate, explain and explore the issues related to the APPG's current work / sessions.

If you are a member and would like to write to your MP and let them know about the APPG and see if they are interested in becoming involved, we have drafted a letter template for you to use.

Scroll through the image gallery above to see a selection of photos from the APPG for Theatre launch event in October 2019, or view the full gallery here.

Please note that this is not an official webpage of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed on this webpage are those of the group.

APPG for Theatre Chair:

Giles Watling MP

Officers
Role	Name	Party
Chair & Registered Contact	Giles Watling MP	Conservative
Vice Chair Vice Chair	Alison Thewliss MP Kevin Brennan MP	Scottish National Party Labour
Vice Chair Vice Chair	Theo Clarke MP Stephen Metcalfe MP	Conservative Conservative
Vice Chair	Lord Kerslake	Crossbench
Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair	Andrew Lewer MP Simon Baynes MP Baroness Whitaker Nickie Aiken MP Kerry McCarthy MP	Conservative Conservative Labour Conservative Labour

You can now sign-up to hear about the work of the Theatre APPG.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.

To find out more about how they work, please visit the UK Parliament Website.

On Wednesday 16 October 2019, the APPG for Theatre had its official launch in the Houses of Parliament. To see some of the tweets from the day, take a look at this Twitter Moment. You can read more about the day from this news story. Co-Chairs Tracy Brabin MP and Giles Watling MP have also penned a feature for The Stage about the APPG.

View the full gallery of images from the launch. (Photos: Pamela Raith Photography)

Lord Kerslake, Giles Watling MP, Helen Whately - Ex Arts Minister

Make sure to sign-up to our newsletter to be kept up-to-date about upcoming events.

1. Annual General Meeting (18th January 2022)

The officers of the APPG met to vote for the APPG to continue its work for another calendar year.

You can download the minutes here.

2. Panel Discussion on Skills Gaps and the Future of the Workforce (20th April 2022)

The APPG welcomed an expert panel made up of people from across the industry to discuss the skills and workforce issues affecting the sector. This was followed by a closed, Chatham House discussion between the panel, Parliamentarians, and industry attendees.

You can download the minutes here.

Speakers and captioned recordings from the session

Jacqui O'Hanlon, Director of Learning and Partnerships, RSC - recording
Dale Rooks, Director of Learning, Education, and Participation, Chichester Festival Theatre - recording
Helen Mugridge, Freelance Production Manager - recording
Freddie Crossley, Freelance Artist and Freelancers Make Theatre Work representative - recording

3. Panel Discussion on International Touring (5th July 2022)

The APPG hosted an expert panel of industry representatives to discuss the issues surrounding international touring. This was followed by a closed, Chatham House discussion between the panel, Parliamentarians, and industry attendees.

You can download the minutes here.

Speakers (captioned recordings from the session to follow)

Will Gompertz, Artistic Director, Barbican
Claudia Courtis, General Manager, Glynis Henderson Productions
James Brindle and Aeneas Richardson, join-Executive Directors, Magna Vitae Trust

4. Panel Discussion on Levelling Up (6th Setpember 2022)

The APPG will be hosting an evidence session on how theatre and the performing arts can contribute to the Government's 'Levelling Up' agenda. Further details TBA.

The APPG for Theatre holds regular meetings to discuss priorities and to hear from expert speakers. A list of meetings from previous years is below. Please click on a meeting to download the minutes/agenda. If you would like to attend a meeting please email our Public Affairs Manager, Christopher.

2021

APPG for Theatre meeting - Theatres, Sustainability and the Green Agenda, 20 July 2021 via Zoom

Speakers

Paddy Dillon, Trustee of Theatres Book and Coordinator of the Theatre Green Book
Gemma Swallow, Technical Director, National Theatre of Scotland
Feimattah Conteh, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Manchester International Festival
Alison Tickell, Director, Julie's Bicycle

APPG for Theatre meeting - How Local Authorities and theatres can help each other recover from COVID-19, 8 June 2021 via Zoom.

Speakers

The Local Government Association - Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE, Chair, LGA Culture, Tourism and Sport Board
Royal Shakespeare Company - Geraldine Collinge, Director of Director of Creative Placemaking and Public Programmes
Bonnie Turnbull, Director of Marketing and Communications & Jon Gilchrist, Executive Director – HOME (Manchester)
Cllr Kaya Comer Schwartz, Islington Council Leader

You can download the minutes here.

APPG for Theatre meeting - Impact of COVID-19 on the UK's Theatre Sector, Tuesday 26 January 2021 via Zoom

Agenda

Films from the session

COVID & Theatre Update	Julian Bird, Chief Executive, UK Theatre & Society of London Theatre
Economic Stimulus: Insurance & Theatre Tax Relief	Rupert Gavin, Independent Producer & SOLT Board Member
The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 on Freelancers/ Self-Employed	Emma-Jayne Park, Independent Dance Artist, Theatre-Maker and Arts Advocate
Welsh Theatre Industry and COVID-19	Hannah Kester, Head of Cultural Development, Awen Culture Trust
Scottish Theatre Industry and COVID-19	Liam Sinclair, Executive Director & Joint CEO, Dundee Rep & Scottish Dance Theatre Kris Bryce, Executive Director, Pitlochry Theatre
Northern Irish Theatre Industry and COVID-19	Claire Murray, Head of Development & Marketing, Lyric Theatre Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer, Lyric Theatre Micheál Meegan, Head of Finance and HR, Lyric Theatre

Agenda AGM - Tuesday 12 January, 15.00-16.00 hrs.

Minutes

2020

Films from the session

COVID & the performing arts - update	Julian Bird, Chief Executive, UK Theatre & Society of London Theatre
Comprehensive Spending Review	David Ward and Neil Darlison, Arts Council England
Brexit and Dance	Farooq Chaudhary, Producer Akram Khan Company
Brexit and Theatre	Leonora Thomson, Interim Artistic Director, Barbican
Classical Music - Touring after Brexit & COVID	Kathryn McDowell, London Symphony Orchestra

APPG for Theatre, Impact of COVID on theatre & the EGM - 16 July 2020 - Agenda & Minutes

Films from the session

What we asked of government + what still needed from SOLT /UKT perspective	Julian Bird, Chief Executive UK Theatre & SOLT
Freelancers and early career	Mumba Dodwell, Freelance theatre director, actor and founder of The Diversity School Initiative
Organisation view	Julia Potts, Business Director (UK Venues), Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG)
Disability / We Shall Not Be Removed campaign	Robert Softley-Gale, Artistic Director, Birds of Paradise Theatre company
Embedding anti-racism action within the industry	Amanda Huxtable, Artistic Director & CEO, Eclipse

APPG for Theatre Meeting, How Theatre Works in 2020 - 4 March 2020 - Minutes & Agenda
APPG For Theatre Inaugural Meeting - 14 January 2020

2019

The Secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Theatre is provided by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre. Please contact our Public Affairs Manager Christopher for more information on the APPG.

Do follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheatreAPPG. We will also use hashtag #TheatreAPPG.

APPG Chair Giles Watling MP letter to DCMS: Support for freelancers (February 2021)

Response from DCMS

APPG letter: Brexit clarifications needed for the Performing Arts (January 2021) and Press Release

Response from DCMS

APPG letter to DCMS: The impact of COVID-19 on the UK's theatre industry (December 2020)

APPG letter to the Chancellor: Helping theatres recover from COVID-19 (October 2020)

Response from DCMS

SOLT UK Theatre and One Dance UK letter to the Prime Minister, supported by the APPG: COVID-19 - Open letter to the PM (June 2020)

Response from DCMS

APPG letter to DCMS: COVID-19 impact on theatres and performing arts sector (March 2020)

So that we can get a range of views, ideas and input from across the UK theatre sector, we asked a number of people to be a sounding board to the Theatre APPG. They have been chosen to represent, as much as is possible (with still being manageable) the makeup of the UK theatre sector.

So for instance, there is representation from: the subsidised and commercial; from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; from freelancer and organisation; from small to large; touring, producer, venue etc.

We aim to review this list yearly. If you are interested in being on this, do let us know.

Benefits In Kind
Source	Description	Value £s In bands of £1,500	Received	Registered
Society of London Theatre	Joint Secretariat From : 14/01/2021 To : 13/01/2022	1,501-3,000	14/01/2021	13/01/2021
UK Theatre	Joint Secretariat From : 14/01/2021 To : 13/01/2022	1,501-3,000	14/01/2021	13/01/2021

Statement of Income and Expenditure for YE 31 Dec 2019

Income
Donor		£
Harbottle & Lewis		2,500

Expenses
Date paid	Description	£
27/08/2019	House of Commons - Launch event	(4,384)
23/10/2019 + 06/11/19	White Light - AV Services & Equipment	(2,450)
04/10/2019	XL Displays - Banner	(293)
23/10/2019	M&S Flowers - R Treanor	(30)
06/11/2019	A Miller Travel Expenses	(81)

		(7,238)

	Total cost to SOLT/UK Theatre	(4,738)

Statement of Income and Expenditure for YE 31 Dec 2020

Income
		£
		0

Expenses
Date paid	Description
22/07/2020	121 Captions - 16th Jul evidence session	(302.50)
07/10/2020	121 Captions - 15th Sep evidence session	(192.50)

		(495.00)

	Total cost to SOLT/UK Theatre	(495.00)

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Get in touch

32 Rose Street
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enquiries@soltukt.co.uk

+44 (0)20 7557 6700

"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.