Puppet Centre

The Puppet Centre is a development agency supporting all forms of puppetry and object animation.

[Puppet Centre @PuppetCentre]

Well that’s a big puppet..

[Trigger @TriggerStuff]

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! We're over the moon to announce @HatchlingUK, a spectacular & enormous dragon will hatch, roam and FLY from the clifftops of Plymouth this summer. We will reclaim the streets with ground breaking new public art. #TheHatchling https://t.co/zHktp2KOh0

[Trigger @TriggerStuff]

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! We're over the moon to announce @HatchlingUK, a spectacular & enormous dragon will hatch, roam and FLY from the clifftops of Plymouth this summer. We will reclaim the streets with ground breaking new public art. #TheHatchling https://t.co/zHktp2KOh0

[Puppet Centre @PuppetCentre]

Puppet Centre Trust
2019 - The Year in Puppetry
This film showcases the wide variety of UK puppetry productions performed, viewed and created in 2019. A very special thanks to all the companies and artists who contributed to the making of this film.
https://t.co/E9T7t8fJuu

[Puppet Centre @PuppetCentre]

Exciting opportunity for any theatre artists who are interested in making site specific work.

[Dr Sue Buckmaster (hons) @SueBuckmaster]

My next Masterclass - this time on making site specific productions. Plse share @PuppeteersUK @PuppetPlace @PuppetCentre

[Elaine Hartley @LaineyHartley]

Just amazing to have been able to perform live theatre this weekend with @HalfaString, and to bee part of @marlowetheatre’s wonderful #LoveYourTheatre festival #ISavedABee #SaveTheArts @LoulouAshton @PeteJMorton

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

These are just the statistics for theatre - the wider creative industries, like live music, face similar issues, closures and redundancies. And these industries all affect our food & drink, travel, accommodation and tourism industries too.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Allowing theatre to die isn’t just heartless, it’s bad economics.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Without government support, many theatres won’t be able to re-open, or will be utterly eviscerated. HMRC won’t receive the £200+ million VAT we normally pay to them each year.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Without government support, estimates suggest that 200,000 people who are currently without work, or will imminently lose their current job, will have to start claiming benefits.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Whatever you think of the arts, the economics of the situation are very simple.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Online theatre can’t save us. Playing to small audiences can’t save us. Outdoor theatre can’t save us. We need external help & we need it fast. Both for individuals excluded from government income support, and for the theatres that employ us, either full-time or otherwise.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

With reserves drying up & no support from Gov, theatres can’t afford to keep furloughing full-time staff. They’re going into administration, or starting 30%-50% staff cuts. We’re at the start of a tidal wave of redundancies that’ll sweep across the country over the next 3 weeks.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Most people I know have received NO INCOME & NO SUPPORT SINCE MARCH. And they have no prospects of any work for the remainder of 2020. Freelancers are in a desperate situation. @ExcludedUK estimate 3 million UK freelancers are in similar position.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

On a typical show: 20% full-time employees, 80% freelance/short-term/casual. Many mix freelance & short-term PAYE- not thru choice but because how HMRC classify work. Consequently MAJORITY of us excluded from SEISS freelance support scheme, and don’t qualify for furlough

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

There are 3 theatre workforces:- permanent full-time venue staff; freelance/short-term staff employed for a specific show- actors, musicians, crew & creatives; & casual day-to-day staff such as follow-spot operators, ushers & dressers. This is simplified, it’s more complex IRL

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

We can’t safely open up theatres now. We can’t economically open theatres now. And audiences wouldn’t come even if we did.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Survey of 40,000 theatregoers says only 15-20% would attend if theatres open now. We need to be past social distancing, or have other solutions before we can safely & economically open. Many believe that’s unlikely before early 2021. 70% of theatres will be bankrupt by then.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

As other industries begin to reopen, the future of theatre is bleak. 2 metre social distancing means most theatres can operate at max 9-15% audience capacity. 1m distancing means max 33%. Theatres need 50-60% capacity just to cover their costs.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

Over 100,000 people visit London to watch a West End show every single week - and for every £1 spent at the theatre they spend another £3 on food, drink, accommodation and travel. That's over £500 million per year into those industries.

[Gareth Fry @garethfrysound]

In 2018, more than 34million tickets were sold, over double attendance of Premier League football, and generating £211 million in VAT alone for HMRC. Over 50% of theatres are charities or trusts, operating not for profit.