More than 100 jobs are at risk at the UK’s largest regional theatre after it saw income almost wiped out because of the coronavirus lockdown.
Redundancy consultations involving the trade union Bectu (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union) began on Monday, June 22, at Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), and could affect almost a third of the charity’s staff.
TRP employs 340 full- and part-time workers, and also controls the TR2 production facility in the Cattedown area of the city where sets and props for major West End and global productions are made.
Adrian Vinken, chief executive of TRP, has said the theatre is unlikely to be able to open for months, even with restrictions and social distancing being eased, because expensive stage productions need almost full houses to be economically viable.
With almost all income coming from ticket sales and revenue from in-house sales, such as food and drink, the theatre has next to no revenue.
Mr Vinken said: “With the Government’s furlough scheme finishing in October and no guarantee about when and how we can safely open our doors, our already depleted funds will be under increasing pressure in the coming months.
“This is compounded by research predicting a reduction in audience numbers when we do reopen, meaning that we’ll have to weather a significant drop in revenue even then – a situation that could last for 12 months or more.
“Together these factors have led us to the very painful but unavoidable conclusion that we must reduce our workforce in order to try to protect TRP for the future.”
Kevin Carson, of Bectu, said: “Bectu has developed a positive working relationship with TRP in helping the company become a Real Living Wage employer last year.
“Although this announcement about potential redundancies is worrying news, we understand that TRP have similar concerns for their survival as do most other theatres across the country. We will work with TRP to ensure the long-term future for the organisation and our members’ jobs.”
TRP has seen 91% of its income disappear as the lockdown forced it to cancel productions and refund customers since the middle of March.
But despite this big loss of revenue, the charity stressed it has supported all its staff and creative freelancers since lockdown, with most of the workforce currently furloughed.
Mr Vinken said: “We have done everything we could to protect the jobs and incomes of our loyal workforce for as long as possible. This includes continuing to pay our casual staff members when most companies terminated contracts back in March.
“We have also honoured all contracts with creative freelancers working on the shows that we were due to produce despite their cancellation.”
Whilst the venue has been shut it has undertaken support efforts including staff fundraisers and the launch of an emergency appeal to which hundreds of people have and continue to contribute. It has also been actively lobbying the Government for additional sector support.
Nick Buckland, TRP’s chair of trustees, said “We continue to play a visible role in lobbying Government for additional support for the creative sector to emphasise the very real challenges theatres like TRP face and the impact closure will have on local communities.
“Without ticket sales or the furlough scheme we will very quickly run out of money – it’s why we’ve had to propose redundancies and plan to reduce activity in order to cut overheads and buy TRP a few more months of precious time.”
Recently, TRP’s active staff members volunteered to reduce their salaries by 20% in a bid to support the charity.
Mr Vinken said “The commitment of the whole organisation during this very challenging time has been exceptional particularly the moving gesture by those still working to volunteer a 20% reduction in pay.
“TRP’s excellent reputation in the industry and the fierce level of public support it enjoys has been built over many years and is a testament to the quality of our people.
“It’s heartbreaking that what was a thriving organisation worth more than £40million annually to the local economy just weeks ago has been forced to implement redundancies to safeguard the future.
“It’s a terribly sad outcome for such loyal and capable staff – but a regrettable and inevitable result of the ongoing crisis.”
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Though an opening date for TRP has yet to be confirmed, productions in 2020 remain on sale including the Christmas pantomime Aladdin.
TRP recently announced the cancellation of The Phantom of The Opera due to the pandemic but several new shows for 2021 are due to be announced in July, and new dates for This Land performances will be confirmed in due course.
Mr Vinken said “The best way to support TRP is to continue donating, purchasing gift vouchers or booking tickets for the future as normal – safe in the knowledge that if we are able to open you’ll have a fantastic time and, if the show has to be cancelled, you’ll get a full refund.”
No final decision on redundancies will be made until the consultation process is complete, TRP said. Companies looking to recruit staff are asked to contact TRP via info@theatreroyal.com with any available opportunities which will be circulated to all those effected.
