We've released 4 audio monologues by Daneka Etchells, Felix Mufti, Kamal Kaan & Nicole Joseph, all exploring what it's like to navigate a creative career as a working-class artist.
Listen to Gobshite, Scrounger, Art is a Fart & In and Out the Money on our website rtyds.co.uk/class-assembly-legacy
Interested? Send an expression of interest by completing a quick and easy form to complete by Thu 26 Feb.
Apply on our website: www.rtyds.co.uk/fair-play-artists-talk
#FairPlayArtistsTalk
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We're looking for 20 working-class, mid-career theatre creatives and makers to take part in creating a short, one minute video of themselves answering one of our questions regarding class and access in the theatre industry.
Plus, we'll be giving £50 to the 20 people selected to take part!
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We're continuing our dedication to platforming working class voices within the theatre industry by introducing Fair Play: Artists Talk.
Watch Stef O'Driscoll, our Co-Creative Lead, introduce the Artists Talk campaign here: youtube.com/shorts/p5nso...
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We're keen to share more thoughts regarding working-class and access in the theatre industry.
Check back on our social media channels this Thursday to find out more and how YOU can take part.
We asked our Fair Play Advocate Matthew Dunster to share his thoughts on the relevance of working-class storytelling, especially towards welcoming new audiences to theatres.
He's currently directing The Battle which is performing at Birmingham Rep until Sat 07 Mar.
Fair Play logo. Text reads: Watch this space... We'll be sharing some exciting news this Thursday!
We have a VERY exciting campaign which we'll be launching later this week.
Here's a hint:
It's Fair Play related and it's something YOU may want to take part in!
To find out more, have a look at our socials on Thursday 19 February.
#FairPlay
#WatchThisSpace
This programme is the only one of its kind in England. It offers mid-career directors and theatre makers from working class backgrounds the opportunity to progress to artistic leadership, with a paid 18-month training residency.
Read more: www.rtyds.co.uk/news/fair-play-aad-announcement
Three headshots of the Fair Play Associate Artistic Director residencies, along with logos of theatres. Jamie Sophia Fletcher at Leeds Playhouse. Rikki Henry at Bristol Old Vic. Yusra Warsama at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
We’re delighted to announce the three directors & theatre makers who will be joining RTYDS for our Fair Play Associate Artistic Director residency.
A big welcome to:
- Jamie Sophia Fletcher at Leeds Playhouse
- Rikki Henry at Bristol Old Vic
- Yusra Warsama at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
If you’re interested and would like an informal and confidential conversation with our recruitment consultant, Mary Caws, please get in touch at cawsmary@gmail.com.
WE ARE RECRUITING!
We're looking for an exceptional Executive Director who is committed to addressing the inequity experienced by working class artists in theatre.
21 hrs (3 days) per week
£28,800 (£48,000 pro rata)
Remote/Manchester
More info: www.rtyds.co.uk/jobs
Deadline: 12 noon, Mon 15 Dec
Big shout out to @bradford2025.co.uk, Common/Wealth, @bdproducinghub.co.uk & Castles in the Sky for helping us make it happen & to all of the incredible artists that supported the day and shared their work.
Fancy hosting a Class Assembly in your region? Get in touch with us on fairplay@rtyds.co.uk!
Caitriona Shoobridge and Stef O'Driscoll hosting Class Assembly Bradford
Panel discussion chaired by Sue Emmas, with Michelle McGrath (Museum as Muck), David John (Equity Class Network) and Beth Hughes (Working Class British Art Network).
Panel discussion chaired by Stef O'Driscoll, with Ezra Nash (Common/Wealth), Tanya Vital (Vital Culture) and Chris Sonnex (Cardboard Citizens).
Conversations and artist commissions at Common Space.
Earlier this month, we brought together artists and organisations from around the country for Class Assembly Bradford and WOW, what a day it was!
We were so energised by the day and we’re excited to keep the conversation going around class inequity in the arts.
📸 @tomwoollard.bsky.social
Delighted to share this brilliant opportunity from our friends at @rtyds.bsky.social to support three working class mid-career directors to develop their practice in a mid-scale theatre for 18-months. Applications close on Thursday 18 September at 10am.
www.rtyds.co.uk/associate-ar...
Our residencies are back!
We've partnered with Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse & @liveveryplay.bsky.social for our Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency - paid opportunities for 3 mid-career working class directors.
Deadline: 18 Sep, 10am
Online Q&A: 1 Sep, 4pm
More info: bit.ly/45a8P0V
RTYDS Fair Play - Actions for Change. Sustainability. Freelancers are often given the advice; ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’. If we recognise that completing a marathon without access to equipment and practice, a coach, and dedicated training is impossible, then we should understand the same is true for creative freelancers. Ask your freelancers and employees who are from working class/ low socio-economic backgrounds what they need to stay in for the long run.
RTYDS Fair Play - Actions for Change. Time. Organisations need to provide sustained support and investment over a consistent period for working class creatives. Support given over one to two years has the most significant impact as it provides a stable base of resources. This should be provided at all levels of experience and not just for early career workers and freelancers.
RTYDS Fair Play - Actions for Change. Financial Accessibility. We need organisations and independent producers to understand and address the financial reality for working class/ low socio-economic background people working in theatre. We need an industry that is more benefits literate and knowledgeable about the impact of precarious self-employment on those claiming Universal Credit.
Our next three Actions for Change for Fair Play are: Sustainability, Time & Financial Accessibility.
If the sector adopted all six of these actions, we believe it could be transformational for artists & companies from working class & low socio-economic backgrounds in sustaining their careers.
RTYDS Fair Play Actions for Change. Ownership. The sector needs to own and address the problems faced by artists who are working class and from low socio-economic backgrounds to recognise how structures isolate and exclude. We need organisations to take responsibility for leading on conversations around financial, social, and cultural capital in areas including programming, creative processes, workforce, representation and HR including wellbeing.
RTYDS Fair Play - Actions for Change. Evidence. We need data that is specific to theatre. Data that can accurately paint the picture of the specificities of socio-economic backgrounds and how it intersects with all the protected characteristics – and data that considers geographic location in relation to class. We need to be more inclusive around differing lived experiences of socio-economic marginalisation, including experiences such as the care system, benefit system, criminal justice system and immigration system.
RTYDS Fair Play - Actions for Change. Equity. We need targeted funding opportunities aimed specifically at freelance artists, workers and companies who are working class or from low socio-economic backgrounds, and the organisations who want to create opportunities for them. Without targeted funding, very little systemic change can happen.
As part of Fair Play, we've developed six Actions for Change.
We believe that these actions implemented across the sector could make real change for artists, companies & creative workers from working class & low socio-economic backgrounds.
The first three actions are: Ownership, Evidence & Equity.
Cat Shoobridge, our Co-Creative Lead for Fair Play, is in @artsprofessional.co.uk talking about Surviving on a Shoestring - our bespoke finance equity programme:
www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/theatre-initiative-aims-to-support-freelancers-using-the-benefits-system
RTYDS 18-Month Residencies are back!
Introducing the Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency, where three building-based theatres (outside of London) can partner with us to each host an experienced working class director.
Deadline for theatres to apply: Thu 10 Jul, 12noon
More info: www.rtyds.co.uk/associate-artistic-director
Former Young Vic leader Kwame Kwei-Armah and 2:22 A Ghost Story director Matthew Dunster have backed a slate of new initiatives tackling "class-based exclusion" within British theatre 👇
Image of the five Fair Play Advocates, from left to right: Matthew Xia, Nancy Medina, Matthew Dunster, Kwame Kwei-Armah, and Julie Hesmondhalgh
We're very delighted to announce our five Fair Play Advocates, who are: actor, playwright & director Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE; actor & writer Julie Hesmondhalgh; actor & director Matthew Dunster; and theatre directors Nancy Medina & Matthew Xia!
Read more on our website: bit.ly/4lqihns
We recently met Cat & Sue from @rtyds.bsky.social #RTYDS, at #BurnleyEmpire & learned all about their #FairPlay programme to address the barriers experienced by working class artists, and how they help them to sustain a career within the #theatre industry by tackling socio-economic inequality 👏
FAIR PLAY RTYDS logo, navy text on a white background
✨We’ve had a glow up✨
Introducing our new logo for Fair Play, our nationwide programme of work that addresses the barriers experienced by artists who are working class or from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more: www.rtyds.co.uk/fair-play
Want to know more? Find us on:
💻 www.rtyds.co.uk
📷 www.instagram.com/rtyds_uk
📧 fairplay@rtyds.co.uk
Hi 👋
We are RTYDS & we're running Fair Play, a nationwide initiative addressing socio-economic inequity in theatre.
Our vision is an industry where working class leaders can thrive & where our theatre sector is robust, socially just, & able to recognise, develop & nurture working class talent.
Hello! Fancy seeing you here 🤩
