This week saw the House of Lords Communications Committee make public its report Skills for theatre: Developing the pipeline of talent.
Wednesday's publication followed a period of investigation into the skills needed to sustain the UK theatre industry including barriers to entry and progression.
Since publication came up against the date for the dissolution of Parliament and the General Election, the report seeks only to summarise the evidence received by the Committee, and not to make any examination or offer conclusions.
Issues revealed in the evidence that the report identifies as meriting further consideration are:
- The detrimental effect of stressing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in education on the status of arts subjects in state schools
- The need for better career advice and understanding of the range of jobs available in the industry
- Inadequate training routes in some technical areas like lighting, wardrobe and carpentry, and some administrative areas like theatre management, accountancy and fundraising
- The imbalance in numbers between performers, directors and writers from more affluent backgrounds and those from BAME communities, despite impressive outreach work by the sector, particularly the publicly funded theatre.
- The future funding of theatre, particularly in view of local authority cuts.
Chairman of the Committee Lord Best said, "the UK theatre is a hugely positive part of our social and cultural life, as well as contributing significantly to the nation's economy. It is rightly hailed as a great success story: it showcases the country's creative talent; it is often the starting point for careers in film and television; and it is an important element in the UK's soft power.
“However, although we were unable to complete our inquiry, we heard our witnesses raise a number of concerns about the effects of changes in education policy, apprenticeships and training, and support for the publicly funded theatre. We were told that, despite efforts by the theatres, those able to benefit from private education and financial support from parents are disproportionately represented in this industry.
“We hope that the Government—and all those concerned with the theatre—will give careful consideration to the issues raised with us and that this summary of evidence will contribute to maintaining and developing the flow of talent that has served the UK's theatre industry so well."