As The Theatrical Guild (TTG) announces that its fundraising appeal in partnership with Sir Ian McKellan (who donated £40,000 of match funding) has so far raised £79,005 out of its £100,000 goal with three months to go, Sir Ian has called for further donations to support industry workers after over a year with no theatre work and many productions unlikely to return until 2022.
Speaking about the appeal that began in July 2020, Sir Ian said, “A huge thank you to all the people who have match-funded my donation to the Theatrical Guild’s fundraising initiative on The Good Exchange. Your support in helping backstage and front of house theatre workers across the UK is really important and we are almost there! With only three months to go and still no theatre work please help us reach our goal of raising £100,000“.
The funding has already been used to help over 1,050 out-of-work theatre workers with financial, psychological and job seeking support of all kinds.
“I will be forever grateful to the Theatrical Guild for the support they have given me over the last few months, without which we would have probably lost our home and struggled to feed our children, our situation was desperate,” said Roger, a Lighting Technician.
Catherine, a Stage Manager, also shared her intimate story: “I was at rock bottom, I saw no way out, and even tried to take my life, but just having a phone call from the Guild helped, the fact that they helped me pay my rent arrears and gave me access to the Counsellor was incredible, THANK YOU!”
If you love going to the theatre and want to help those who work in the industry, please give what you can here.
