WHY WE VOLUNTEER OUR TIME
On October 20th 2021 the THE STAGE newspaper reported the following findings from Audience Agency, There were 2,025 responses, selected using quotas for age, gender, ethnicity, region and segmentation tool Audience Spectrum.
Oliver Mantell, director of evidence and insight at the Audience Agency, said the findings showed the “impacts of Covid-19 are far from over, for audiences or cultural organisations”.
He added: “There are opportunities here as well, however – such as local and community events and digital hybrid offers – and there are still substantial numbers who are ready to return. Understanding audiences, and how they vary, is more important than ever.”
Covid-19 safety concerns are preventing a significant proportion of previously frequent arts attenders from returning to cultural venues. Among audiences that have not yet returned to in-person performance, less than a third have booked tickets to a cultural event in future.
The proportion of people stating they are “happy to attend” has not increased since June, when it was 29%. It is now 28%. There has also been a rise from 11% to 20% of those who said they were “not interested” in attending at all. This significant increase is largely at the expense of those who previously said they ‘were not comfortable attending until there has been a significant reduction in risk from Covid-19’, suggesting that opinions may be hardening up,” the agency said.
Oliver Mantell, director of evidence and insight at the Audience Agency, said the findings showed the “impacts of Covid-19 are far from over, for audiences or cultural organisations”.
He added: “There are opportunities here as well, however – such as local and community events and digital hybrid offers – and there are still substantial numbers who are ready to return. Understanding audiences, and how they vary, is more important than ever.”
Covid-19 safety concerns are preventing a significant proportion of previously frequent arts attenders from returning to cultural venues. Among audiences that have not yet returned to in-person performance, less than a third have booked tickets to a cultural event in future.
The proportion of people stating they are “happy to attend” has not increased since June, when it was 29%. It is now 28%. There has also been a rise from 11% to 20% of those who said they were “not interested” in attending at all. This significant increase is largely at the expense of those who previously said they ‘were not comfortable attending until there has been a significant reduction in risk from Covid-19’, suggesting that opinions may be hardening up,” the agency said.
MISSION STATEMENT
ROTHERHITHE PLAYHOUSE
We are a unique company responding directly to the 20/21 Covid crisis and how it may shape the immediate future of the performing arts.
Our objective is to ensure all our community can unite in sharing great theatre together after the isolation of lockdown, by removing all risk, real or perceived, from watching a live performance.
We stage regular affordable productions in partnership with other local business and institutions, on their premises, and without charge so that they too can also welcome our neigbours back, increase their outreach or promote their work within our community.
We also help local pubs rebuild their customer base by guiding our audience there to collect tickets and buy refreshments.
We work in consultation with theatre equipment companies to find innovative ways to use their products in new models of theatre production which eliminate waste, minimise our impact on the environment and maximise audience engagement; particularly amongst those who’d never seen live theatre before.
We provide opportunity for lifelong learning and ensure every child has the opportunity to see the plays they are studying performed at convenient times, giving each an introduction to live theatre to carry into adult life.
Please help us to realise our objective and create a new theatre for RIGHT NOW -.
A THEATRE WITHOUT FEAR.
NO ONE NEED FEAR OUR VENUES.
We seek out places to perform beyond the conventional venues, from which most people have long felt excluded.
We mount productions in welcoming open spaces, often in the open air, where, according to current government guidelines, the chance of infection is considerably reduced.
All our activities are vigorously risk assessed and comply with up to the minute Covid advice, regulations and safe-guards.
NO ONE NEED FEAR THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE.
To ensure everyone can afford to join us our tickets are always free for anyone accessing food banks or subsidized school meals and offered to everyone else on a “pay what you can basis”, via our website.
NO ONE NEED FEAR THEY’LL BE UNWELCOME.
We carefully select a range of performance locations for the shows we do allowing the institutions we work with to also welcome their neighbours, promote their work or increase their community outreach; Typically staying for a two show residency per year.
Productions are also paired with one of our beleaguered local pubs welcoming the community to visit in order to collect their tickets and buy refreshment in accordance with Covid regulations.
NO ONE NEED FEAR THEY’RE DISENGAGED.
We theme our productions to allow our audience to consider wider social issues, for instance our first season celebrates the 70th Anniversary of The Refugee Council.
NO ONE NEED FEAR THEY’RE EXCLUDED.
Our actors are drawn from the widest possible range of cultural backgrounds to ensure everyone sees themselves reflected on our stage.
Our equality, diversity and inclusion policy reflects our commitment to create a working environment in which everyone may thrive.
NO ONE NEED FEAR THEY’RE MISSING OUT.
Regular engagement with our frequent productions will provide everyone with a chance to discover a range of masterpieces they may never otherwise encounter, in lively accessible productions.
AND… NO CHILD NEED FEAR THEY WON’T UNDERSTAND.
We want to give every child in our community the opportunity to see the plays they are studying performed live as preparation for their exams and provide each with a theatre going experience to draw upon for the rest of their lives.
Our schools performances are uniquely scheduled to allow young audiences to drop by on their way home from school ensuring no classes are missed and no child need be out late at night.
