Freelancers Make Theatre Work have been doing brilliant and necessary work for several years now, not least their Big Freelancer Survey, which provides a detailed report of freelance experience over the previous twelve months. This is the fifth and final survey, and shows how the passion and commitment of freelancers are being exploited by an underfunded industry.
The data will feed into the lobbying of industry bodies and government, shedding light on where support is lacking and where the most significant challenges are for freelancers in the sector.
We know that severe funding cuts are impacting our sector, but this survey reveals how the lowest-paid and most precarious people in the industry – i.e., its freelancers – are suffering most as a result. Perhaps the most shocking fact is that freelancers’ pay and working conditions are not just standing still but are actually getting worse.
You can read the full report or the executive summary here.