CULTURE
9:36 PM PDT 7/5/2020
by
Abid Rahman
London’s famous West End district, as well as regional theater companies across the country, have been closed since March 16 due to the pandemic.
Netflix has donated $ 625,000 (£ 500,000) to a new fund established by Sam Mendes, the London Theater Society and the UK Theater to help theater workers affected by the UK pandemic.
London’s famous West End theater district, as well as regional companies across the country, employ hundreds of thousands of workers who have been badly affected by the UK-related COVID-19 closure, which started on 16 March and is still in operation as they are considered theaters. A riskier business in the gradual reopening of the country.
The new fund will provide small grants of $ 1,250 (£ 1,000) to struggling theater workers who are not eligible for government aid and have been unable to work since the closure. The fund’s goal is to provide immediate short-term help to hundreds of theater workers and freelancers across the UK, in particular to people from underrepresented groups who have been disproportionately affected by the closings.
In a statement, Sam Mendes said: “Thousands of theater professionals in the UK are struggling. Many of them have been unable to get help from existing government schemes, and the situation continues to worsen. They need help now. We have created a fund to Now available to the most vulnerable independent theater professionals, it is designed specifically for theater workers who are at a breaking point, for those who cannot put food on the table or pay bills, or for those who are considering leaving the theater. profession. in total. “
He added: “The Theater Artists Fund is not for buildings or regular staff, but for independent artists who actually do the shows that the public pays to see. The fund was started by a donation from Netflix and I am extremely grateful for their remarkable generosity and leadership. Although the money is initially limited, I hope it encourages other individual donors and charities. The more money is donated to the fund, the more grants we can give. So please consider a donation. I promise it will make a difference. ”
Anne Mensah, vice president of the original series on Netflix, said: “British theater is a vital cultural force, not least because many emerging talents and original ideas begin life on stage. Creativity is all about collaboration, and we are deeply concerned about the challenges facing our friends in the theater, especially in the regions, and the possible consequences for the various voices and stories at the heart of our culture.
She added: “Playwrights and directors, theater artists and performers, songwriters and comedians are also the soul of our industry and, while Netflix has been more fortunate than many, in the end we are only as strong as the people we work with. As we continue to nurture the flow of emerging creative talents, cultivate diverse projects, and provide an opportunity for the most exciting new jobs to be seen, we remain optimistic that the industry can flourish once again and satisfy the public’s insatiable appetite for culture, creativity and entertainment. ”
Full details on grant applications can be found on the Theater Artists Fund Fund website.
