Useful Links
Audience Development
For a mass of free advice, reports and research see the Black Theatre Live commissioned academic Research Papers, Blogs, Downloads and Partners, and for touring you can also sign-up with the Audience Agency for SHOW STATS and AUDIENCE FINDER
Theatre Tax Relief
HARBOTTLE & LEWIS legal summary note on HMRC Theatre Tax Relief aimed for touring theatre productions
Green touring
CREATIVE INDUSTRY GREEN run by Julie's Bicycle an online portal to record the effect of your tour on the environment, how much carbon have you used during your tour?
SET EXCHANGE want to make your set available for re-use by other companies or find 'pre-loved' furniture and theatre props for your production? Set Exchange can help.
Tour & Theatre Producers
JONATHAN KENNEDY Associate Producer Tara Arts, Black Theatre Live and more
UK THEATRE PRODUCERS monthly networking and exchange of advice on Facebook group
Websites to promote your tour
TOUR FINDER the free national tour listings site for artists and programmers
AFRIDIZIAK THEATRE NEWS reviews and features
ASIAN CULTURE VULTURE theatre reviews, interviews and features
RED HOT CURRY listings and features
BLACK HISTORY MONTH October each year
LONDON THEATRE established in 2011, London Theatres are in Google news and have daily updates about what is going on in London theatre (West End and Off West End – and elsewhere), with news, reviews, interviews and tickets. The site has several thousand visitors every day to this website.
LAST MINUTE THEATRE TICKETS this website (established in 2005) focuses on London West End – with news, reviews, interviews and tickets. Also a very popular ‘In Profile’ section primarily focusing on those that were in the ensemble at the time of writing the articles. (many have risen to leading roles). The site has several thousand visitors every day to this website.
OFF WEST END all-embracing site for independent theatre in London
THEATRE VOICE online archive of audio interviews with theatr-makers
NEE HAO Chinese newspaper and online
Black & Asian theatre archives
BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVE Brixton based archive and exhibition centre for diverse range of Black cultural resources.
The V&A THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE archive and exihibitions in London.
Tara Arts DIGITAL THEATRE ARCHIVE supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, all cross-cultural productions from 1977 to the present.
The BLACK PLAYS ARCHIVE, hosted by the National Theatre archives.
Warwick University BBA Shakespeare, BRITISH BLACK & ASIAN SHAKESPEARE
The British Library sound archive includes a host of audio recordings of taken from the THEATRE ARCHIVE
South Asian Diaspora Arts Archive SADAA
The NATIONAL ARCHIVE in Kew has several sections in theatre and diversity.
The ASSOCIATION OF OF PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTIONS
University of Bristol THEATRE ARCHIVE COLLECTION
The THEATRES TRUST LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
Other touring consortia
BIG IMAGINATIONS is a region-wide group of venues and promoters dedicated to bringing brilliant children’s theatre to the North West
The TOURING CONSORTIUM a network of theatres that produce drama for people across the UK
HOUSE THEATRE toward the south east and south west regions
THE TOURING NETWORK rural touring in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland
FUEL THEATRE - New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood
COLLABORATIVE TOURING NETWORK led by Battersea Arts Centre
NORTH EAST ARTS TOURING Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus, the north east of Scotland
DANCE TOURING PARTNERSHIP a network of theatres working together to bring exciting & engaging dance to audiences around the UK.
RAMPS ON THE MOON led by New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, ‘Ramps on the Moon’ brings together a collaborative network of six National portfolio organisation theatres including New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and strategic partner Graeae Theatre – Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nottingham Playhouse, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres.
DISABILITY ARTS TOURIG NETWORK building capacity and sharing information and skillsets across the UK
SPOT ON RURAL TOURING Lancashire
SMALL VENUES NETWORK has been developed to promote small theatres and arts centres to touring companies and audiences in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
REGIONAL TOURING NETWORK lead by English Touring Theatre
VENUES NORTH is a network of venues from across the North of England who are committed to supporting artists to create new work.
Tour planning
Accomodatoin and digs on tour:
THEATRE DIGS BOOKER accomodation for theatre professionals
AIR BnB homes, apartments and private rooms
Looking for a rehearsal room see REHEARSAL SPACE FINDER
Useful places for further touring advice
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL advice pages on touring
BRIGHTON FRINGE professional development programme
UK ARTS INTERNATIONAL presenting diverse touring work in the UK & internationally
THEATRE DIGS BOOKER you can book digs for the company on tour centrally through this site.
Arts Council England STRATEGIC TOURING, supporting strategic nationtal touring across artfomrs, locations and venues.
NATIONAL RURAL TOURING FORUM supporting small-scale touring to rural locations and communities.
CREU CYMRU the development agency for touring theatres and arts centres across Wales
The WORLD FRINGE ALLIANCE an international network of various fringe festivals across the globe
International Touring
IETM international network for contemporary performing arts
INTERNATIONAL THEATRE INSTITUTE world orgnanisation for the performing arts
BRITISH COUNCIL - ARTS to search by art form / by country
FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE click on Travel Advice for individual country procedures
VISITING ARTS see Visiting Arts Cultural Profiles & World Cultures Connect
Fundraising
CULTURE EVERYWHERE supported by NESTA, this site has a host of resources for research in preparation of funding bids, complete the on-line survey to get started Culture Everywhere
INSTITUTE OF FUNDRAISING the professional membership body for UK fundraisers. Fundraising news, tips, resources and opportunities.
Membership organisations
UK THEATRE formerly the TMA membership and professional advice for theatre venues, companies and professionals.
The INDEPENDENT THEATRE COUNCIL professional development for the small-scale theatre sector.
The SOCIETY OF LONDON THEATRE (SOLT) for West End production.
PANDA ARTS supporting the generation of innovative creativity. Panda is a network for people in the performing arts with a focus on the North of England.
The STAGE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (SMA) works for stage managers and stage management in UK. All types of performances need creative stage management. The SMA support, develop, represent and promote the work of members in the profession.
The ASSOCIATION OF SOUND DESIGNERS membership organisation to promote good management practise and support for Sound Designers.
WHAT NEXT? is, it is a movement bringing together arts and cultural organisations from across the UK, to articulate and strengthen the role of culture in our society. There are different chapters throughout the country, and anyone working in culture can be involved.
The PRODUCTION MANAGERS ASSOCIATION is a long-established professional body of theatre, film, television, corporate and multimedia production managers.
Accessible performances
STAGE TEXT making theatre accessible for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audiences
VOCAL EYES for performances for blind and visually impaired audiences
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS London-based BSL interpreters
+ other specialist national and regional charities and tremendously helpful for advice, support and promotion of accessible performances RNIB, ACTION ON HEARING LOSS.
ACCESSIBLE THEATRE guide to making theatre performances more accessible
Children's Theatre & Family Arts
GET CREATIVE FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL including advice on 'relaxed performances' and sign-up for theatre to the Family Arts standards
SPARK ARTS FESTIVAL the largest children's arts festival in England & Wales, taking place every May in Leicester
TAKE OFF FESTIVAL England's leading festival of theatre for young audiences. TakeOff Festival returns October annually
ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S ARTS The National Voice of Children’s Arts. Campaigning for children’s right to the arts. Connecting children’s arts practitioners. Celebrating children’s arts in the UK.
Cultural Policy & Practice
The Arts Council England (ACE) DIVERSITY & THE CREATIVE CASE current policy thinking toward the role and impact of diversity in the arts
The British Council GLOBAL ARTS POLICY
The European Commission supporting Europe's culture & creative sectors EUROPEAN AGENDA FOR CULTURE
The DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE MEDIA & SPORT (DCMS) the governments policy agenda for the arts
Trade Unions for the Creative sector
EQUITY is the UK trade union for professional performers and creative practitioners.
THE WRITERS GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN is a trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, poetry, animation and videogames.
MUSICIANS' UNION is a globally-respected organisation which represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the music business.
BECTU is the UK's media and entertainment trade union.
Research, Study & Campaign
CULTURE CASE at Kings College, London comprises a vast array of carefully selected academic research from universities and scholars around the world that can add value to the work of the cultural sector.
ACT FOR CHANGE campaigning for equality in the live & recorded arts.
HEAR THE MUSIC PLAY a compendium website with articles and features on music for performance
Legal advice & Licensing
PRS The Performing Rights Society for songwriters, composers and music publishers. PRS license organisations to play, perform or make available copyright music on behalf of our members and overseas societies, and distribute the resulting royalties to them fairly and efficiently..
OWN-IT free information and legal advice through the University of the Arts London on copyright, design rights, trade marks, confidentiality and licensing for the creative sector.
Casting
SPOTLIGHT is the membership oirgansiation for actors and companies, used by almost all of the industry for casting by agents, directors.
THE CASTING DIRECTORS GUILD the organisation for Casting Directors in the UK and Ireland.
Training & Creative Industries support
EQUITY Harassment Helpline 020 7670 0268 [email protected]
THEATRE HELPLINE 24 hour confidential service providing advice and support for any theatre professional, call 0800 915 4617
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF THE FUTURE, the UK’s first organisation dedicated to creating change at leadership level in mainstream theatres
DRAMA UK provides a unique link between the theatre, media and broadcast industries and drama training providers in the UK. To can find training courses to help you join the profession and links to the Drama Schools through Drama UK.
Are you an actor looking for an agent, you can start by checking out members of the PERSONAL MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION.
CREATIVE & CULTURAL SKILLS building a Creative Nation: creating 6,500 jobs in 1,000 days
ARTSHUB jobs & opportunities to work and connect in the arts
THEATRES TRUST outline descriptions of different jobs in theatre and their basic roles and responisbilities
CREATIVE ACCESS not-for-profit social enterprise finding internships in the creative industries for young people from black, Asian & other non-white minority ethnic backgrounds
STEP CHANGE NATIONAL THEATRE is a national programme for professionals seeking to progress/develop their careers in the performing arts. Providing coaching, mentoring, masterclasses and experience-based learning, Step Change supports those in need of a change of direction.
BBC WRITERS ROOM works with writers at every stage of their career. The Writers Room discover, develop and champion new and experienced writing talent across the whole of the UK. The programme is based in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast.
Scotland
CREATIVE SCOTLAND the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here.
OPPORTUNTIES CREATIVE SCOTLAND connecting creative people with creative opportunities across Scotland
CULTURE REPUBLIC audience information, digital insights & marketing communications support for Scotland's arts & cultural organisations
FEDERATION OF SCOTTISH THEATRE a membership & development body which advances the interests of professional Scottish theatre, dance & opera at home & abroad
Theatre Awards
OLIVIER AWARDS national awards run by the Socoiety of London Theatres
THE OFFIES focussed on London's off-West nd and fringe theatres run by offwestend.com
BEAM AWARDS shines a light on under represented BAME talent across all of the United Kingdom!
ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS awards for media, TV, radio, jounrlaism and theatre
WHATS ON STAGE AWARDS annual theatre awards
THE STAGE AWARDS includes Regional Thetare of the Year and Sustainablity Award
THE MANCHESTER THEATRE AWARDS celebtrating achievements in theatre from across the North West
CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS covering all artsforms judging panel of national arts critics and editors
LONDON EVENING STANDRARD THEATRE AWARDS annual awards covering London
THE SOUTH BANK SKY ARTS AWARDS hsted by Melvyn Bragg
TECHNICAL THEATRE AWARDS marking achievements of technical and backstage creative staffs in theatre
THEATRE & TECHNOLOGY AWARDS independent awards run by Theatrefullstop
THE TONY AWARDS the US major theatre awards centered mainly on Broadway and New York
EDINBURGH FRINGE there are a host of awards for theatre awarded every year toward the end of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival including the Scotsman Fringe First, Total Theatre Awards, Herald Angel Awards and more.
Resources
STAMP Supporting Theatre Artists and Makers of Performance is a group of venues and organisations based in London who support and produce new theatre and performance. STAMP currently have 42 member organisations.
LONDON ARRANGEMENTS provide a selection of classical backing tracks which feature opera, choral, Neapolitan and crossover backing tracks. From full orchestral backing to more intimate, smaller chamber orchestration for performance.