An open meeting is being held to discuss how the In Battalions campaign can be taken forward, generally, but especially in light of the general election in May.
Called by campaign founder Fin Kennedy, the open meeting is taking place in the aptly named Perseverance pub in central London on 26 November at 7:30PM.
In 2013, Fin Kennedy authored a report titled In Battalions. It was a response to then UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey's assertion that Arts Council cuts were having "no effect" on new theatre writing.
In Battalions revealed the extent to which theatres have been pulling back from new writing projects and later gave rise to a follow up study that looked at some strategies for reversing this trend.
The Delphi Study, a form of expert consultation, contained 36 proposals. The open meeting will discuss what, if anything, happens next.
Both Fin Kennedy and Study co–author Helen Campbell Pickford, a doctoral student at St Antony’s College, Oxford, both gave their time unpaid.
Since the previously freelance Kennedy has been appointed full-time artistic director of Tamasha, the question is: can the movement be democratised and progress?
This open meeting could answer that question.
All theatre professionals are invited to attend on 26 November.
The in Battalions report, the Delphi Study and a British Theatre Guide podcast with Fin Kennedy are available for free download.
Fin Kennedy's web site and blog have more information about the meeting and the campaign.