In this unscheduled bonus episode, Sarah speaks to Paul Taylor-Mills, of the Turbine Theatre, Battersea. This episode has been brought forward due to the news that emergency theatre funding will be made available to theatre creatives as of March 30th.
Tune in and hear the news.
In this unscheduled bonus episode, Sarah speaks to Paul Taylor-Mills, of the Turbine Theatre, Battersea. This episode has been brought forward due to the news that emergency theatre funding will be made available to theatre creatives as of March 30th.
Tune in and hear the news.
spk_1: 0:00
welcome to create. It's Going viral. This is an additional emergency episode released as off March 2020
spk_0: 0:05
for
spk_1: 0:06
reasons that you're here. Creatives going viral on emergency podcast Siri's for creative freelances during the covert 19 pandemic. I'm here to offer creative freelances help Aunt Hope Creatives going viral, Welcome to create It's Going viral. It's released on the 26th of March 2020. The reason being is that, as over the 30 of a March, this interview with poor Taylor Mills will explain how additional funding can be made available for anyone in the theatre industry whose current struggling We hope you enjoy it.
spk_2: 1:01
Okay, so today I'm talking to Paul Taylor Mills, who is the artistic director and creative producer. I think that's I forgive me if that's not your correct title off the brand new Turbine Theatre in Battersea.
spk_0: 1:15
Yeah, that's exactly right. Makes me sound slightly more interesting and important. And I am So let's keep that one
spk_2: 1:24
on. Okay, so before that you worked. You work directly for Bill Kenwright. Am I right in thinking that
spk_0: 1:31
I still what I worked with Bill Kenwright? So Bill was one of my partners at the Turbine Theatre, and him and I have co produced a lot of shows together. Before I was at the turbine, I used Teo Be Andrew Lloyd Webber's advisory producer on Iran. Thea, the Palace Theatre in Victoria with him for a few years on DH, vowed never to run a theatre again. And here I am, in another living my best live down at the power station.
spk_2: 1:59
Fantastic. So obviously we live in extraordinary times At the moment on DH. One of the things that we are trying to do with this podcast is to keep you updated on DH to offer people some hope. Basically So first and foremost, I would like to ask you about this fund that you've bean I believe an integral part in setting up.
spk_0: 2:23
Yeah, so I mean, like most people at this time last week, which was around the 15th of March, I believe it was I just woke up with such a heavy heart and a fever. As I mentioned to you earlier, I think I definitely had it on. I just felt that I felt so helpless on DH that I needed to use my voice to do something a cz positive as I could do because I just got into a bit of a rabbit hole in my head of thinking about all of the people that work with me for May in theatre zero hour contracts and freelances on a century of the show's don't happen on DH. You're not subsidised theatre and you don't have deep pockets. It's very, very difficult to support those people. Irrespective of how much you would like to do it. You just find yourself in a position where you can't do it. And I just felt terrible and I thought, I need to do something so that I can, you know, do my bit on DH. I thought, OK, I'll go set up for just giving Paige, I'm gonna get out there. I'm gonna do it on DH. What I'm gonna do is I'm theatre the Turbine Day to set up a charity, and I'm gonna speak to my board, and I'm going to ask them whether they would be happy to essentially spend the time of the next few weeks going through a request for money on prioritising those people that we believe need help as soon as possible on the board I've got really wonderful board in seat Macintosh runs. Watson stage Helen Clarkson, who's an agent? A Sasha Regan, who runs the Union Theatre, which is a similar size theatre to my own on DH. They all just said absolutely go for it. And then I set up just giving Paige. I used my social media following to kind of get the word out there on then from that, it kind of organically just started to get bit of heat. And I noticed that, you know, people anonymous people were doing £100.200 pound, £300 you could see that it was something that was resonating with people. And everybody had this fear that these people were going to be, as in freelancers, were gonna get left behind on DH. Then I got a message from James Graham, the playwright whose responsible things like the quiz um on James just reached out its listen. I've just had a very good TV commission of quiz which has been televised on on DH. Like you, I just feel absolutely helpless. And I'm in a position at the moment where I wasn't this time last year, and I could possibly not be this time next year where I can help. And I would like to donate my fee from that commission to your pot on s Oh, bless him. James donated. It would actually be £26,000. Well, yeah, by the time it's all in on DH. Um, it was 23 originally, and then I got an email from him this morning. Again, It's 26. I'm just Connexion rig on then James being the incredible again person that years, I think his vote of confidence in what we were doing then lead to Dennis Kelly on Sunday night. Dennis's obsession again. A brilliant playwright who wrote lots of places. The royal couple also wrote things like Matilda on on Sunday night. Someone sent me a message saying, Dennis, it was per £10,000 in. You're just giving Paige and then sew in a week. We're just shy of £50,000. It is. It feels so good to know that we're trying to do everything we can. The reality is, you know, with that will probably able to get around 170 people. £300 quickly. Yeah, there's there's probably around 700 emails sat there. Andi, like I've spoke to the board about a criteria as to how we decide who gets it, because there really is no real reason, really, why one person should get it more than anybody else other than their circumstances. Andi, you also feel very guilty because because we're not set up to do this camping youth, you think to yourself, Well, who am I to say that someone's case is more severe than someone else's? It's really impossible, really tricky job. And in the end, we just come up with a kind of a very loose criteria in order to be able to get as much money to as many people as possible quickly to be able to get through it. But it's it's real heart wrenching stuff. You know, I have tto kind of get a cup of tea and sit down half an hour and go through them and do as many as I can and then give myself a break because it's not good for your own mental health. And it's really, really, really hard. And you know, it is that when you're at home on your own and you're reading this. It figure it was impossible. And I think, you know, in a rather self indulgent way. I just want to make sure that we will come out of this at some point eventually. And I want to make sure that I can put my hand on my heart and say that I did everything I could and I know that sounds incredibly pretentious, but I just it may be it's a selfish thing for me, Tio, admit this. But I just want to make sure that I don't end up feeling guilty. You know that I do have the voice and people listen and I don't want to make sure that I use that time when it's needed most.
spk_2: 7:37
Yes, I first of all, thank you. Thank you for doing this. I speak I speak to is as ah, freelancer s o. I understand exactly what this is like, obviously Onda. But also I think there's a very important point to be made here, which is that those who feel they can do something should do something. But it's also important that the people who can't who just can't develop a new project online or they, you know, if That's all right, too. I don't get it. It's very important for us all to forgive ourselves for abilities, relative inabilities, inadequacy, fear, all uncertainties. All of those things
spk_0: 8:23
I could agree. And it's, you know, it's you do what you can and if you if you could do more, do more. If you can't, you can't. And no one should feel guilty about anything. It was me. I just got to a point. I was like, I am in that position where I can do something that I must do something that night and I just got on with it. You know, I'm a doer, and I'll be honest. I probably in a classic me wages got on with it, probably before realising the implications of how much time this is gonna take on the infrastructure that we were gonna need in place to be able to deal with this, you know, from my house. But we are if we don't get on with it. You know, I've always been a bit fearless. Then you know how will we ever know and how we're living support people, right?
spk_2: 9:02
Totally. Couldn't agree with you more on DH. I think that at a time when we're a bit leaderless in terms of it feels like everybody is running around like headless chickens. Anybody who has the capacity to lead in what however small a way should do it. I
spk_0: 9:19
mean, bless him, you know, would let's not even get into politics. But you kind of work. You kind of wonder, like, Where would you start? There's no good place to start, is there. And in this situation some people say it is about politics, but I don't believe it is. I think it's just about everyone on a human level just showing their citizenship. And I'm a true believer that when your back's against the wall and on were really tested is when you really show what kind of person you are. And I think we have to put everything else aside and just get on with it and to do what we can, whether that, like you said, whether that's, you know, donating to just giving Paige, whether setting one up or whether that's just you know, when all this is over going to a small theatre to support their Mohr, you know, going to an independent business on DH to buy your groceries. It's little things again. It goes back to what you were saying was doing what you do, what you can and as best as you can,
spk_2: 10:09
fast forwarding a little bit. I don't know about you, but we have literally just opened. Pretty much the week has kicked off a little brand new venue which we instantly have clothes on really? On. Our venue is completely unfunded, so you know, this is gonna be a very interesting future. So I, for one, have been thinking outside the box as far as humanly possible as to what the future might hold on, what we can do on DH, I applaud all of the kind of online creativity that's springing up in one way or another. It's fantastic. But it's also, I think, with the it would be helpful if the people who have successfully established theatre in around the country, particularly not the great big commercial theatres, came together at some point without some sort of a game plan for how we a sort of rise from the ashes.
spk_0: 11:05
Yeah, well, what's really interesting is I have to say, you know, I've never I've never really worked with the arts council before because the quality of the work I do is even supported by commercial partner or it just hasn't been appropriate to use them. But I really think they have shown their true power on their their virtues over the past week and yesterday they announced what they were going to do for both venues that were normally supported. Yeah, and used the aren't supported and then for individuals. And I think that all launches on the 30th of Mark.
spk_2: 11:38
Yes, I was on that. Yeah,
spk_0: 11:42
it's amazing. And I think you know that is much needed. I mean, big problem with all of this is none of us were expecting this toe have and I know that might been shortsighted, but none of us were expecting this tohave the effects that is really hot. And so everyone is having to think really quickly. Well, the problem is to set up these things, even even you know me and working out how I use my how I kind of where I put my £50,000. It's hard and it's time consuming and you want to be fair, and you want to be thoughtful and make sure there's a process in place to be able to monitor it on DH. You know, when the arts cast their talking millions, I think over £250 million. I could have made that number up because it was late when I was looking at. But you know that there has to be an infrastructure in place, and the problem is, we weren't expecting this. So there is no infrastructure currently in place and even, you know, the fund. We can't get funds from just giving until next Tuesday. That would been two weeks after we set up, which, in my opinion, is two weeks too late. Yeah, but at least we can get because of the charity commission and all of all of that. And so, you know, the fact that they have bean so reactive is amazing on Do you know I'm trying to work out what the positives are out to come out of this Because I believe after something as dramatic as this happens, it has to be some positive in it somewhere. I do believe that there is going to be a very different climate to what we kind of left yes. Before this happened, you know, we were getting into territory, I believe. And again, I don't want to get political. But in theatre it was very, very, very hard to do anything because everybody was always questioning whether you've done this appropriately. Whether that was done appropriately, whether you've done this and whether you'd done that, which actually was starting to stifle creativity, it was certainly with me and my work. And even if you know my smoke there, So I got to a point where I thought, You know, I can't do that play because that's going to be a hassle because it doesn't have this or it doesn't have that or it has too much of that. And it doesn't have this on DH actually event that some work which is creative in its own right on DH, important in its own right, which is not happening because people would just want to be easy option. And I think hopefully I really, really hope that after this it sets in a new normal on DH way start toe. Remember that You know what's important the way that we should be seeing a viewing work, the kind of people and the kind of storeys that we should be telling
spk_2: 14:06
and also the fact that it's we are in the entertainment business. Exactly. Very good words. Yeah, you know, and that people need. But I'm gonna win. Well, they need it now. I mean, I don't like
spk_0: 14:18
you, but I'm more than ever
spk_2: 14:20
loads of terribly funny things on Twitter and because I need to be able to laugh in the midst of all that, it's so important, one to be taken out of themselves and they will not
spk_0: 14:30
let goodness. It's the first thing I said I'm doing. I said, I'm doing a comedy. I don't know what it is, but I'm going to do an old fashioned French fast with good people with funny people. Let's make it happen. It's so important. I think you're absolutely right.
spk_2: 14:43
And that's where we will come into our own again because that's what we have to offer on time and time again throughout history, its programme that the arts does survive because we are necessary. You know that you'll probably be much more upon what the other kind of funds and so unavailable. The people who find themselves in dire straits are no equity has set up a hardship fund ground. I
spk_0: 15:07
think the Society of London Theatre, which is kind of the governing body that commercial producers Airil attached to set up a page on their Web site, which basically lists all of the different charities that are currently kind of taking submissions requesting that's what the right word is. But it's got, like acting for others, which is a kind of umbrella child here. Yes, they've done that quite quickly, and it's really, really, really brilliant. And I've given them some info on my my fund. But that's really the go to page, and I think they'll probably just keep that fluid and keep updating. Get
spk_2: 15:40
we'll? Also, when we think about freelances in the theatre, we turn to forget all the front of house staff and, you know, the crew and the people who drive the sets and make the sets and the sort of stuff. So I presume that their unions are also doing something do we know about?
spk_0: 16:00
I don't know much about that. Yeah, I would. One would hope so. I mean, the problem is, my instinct is, if someone was in a job that was at the national Or was that kind of one of those subsidised regional houses? Yeah. Then I'd like to think that people are being looked after again. You know that they will only be on contracts with a time limit. Because we work in an industry where most people don't end up in long running shows, you know they'll be on 3 to 6 month contracts on DH. Who knows how long this is gonna last? But I also think even the Western contracts I think we're not there yet. But we're very, very close to working out a deal for these actors, which is similar to, I think, 80% of what they would have been paid to try and talk them over this time.
spk_2: 16:46
Have you got any kind of final thoughts as to words of wisdom to share with?
spk_0: 16:52
Oh, I don't That's quite hard one, isn't it? It's not anywhere to wisdom, but I think you know, I have mentioned it. I just I think more than ever now is time to look after each other on DH. As I said, you know, I'm trying to work out what the positives to come out of this irony because I believe you, Noel change invokes something positive on DH. You know, I'm calling my mother more so. I speak to a one today and we have a good old 40 minute chat. And, you know, I can't remember the last time we did that, you know, and this is a very, very terrible thing to admit. But I haven't cooked from home in years. And I'm suddenly like I'm currently chopping my sweet potatoes while talking to you on just taking, like ownership over what I'm eating on DH eating well on which I'd never have done and getting into a routine of, like, going for a run in the morning and just, you know, do my five miles and then coming in and having a shower. And it's it's There's something really reassuring about having that routine, which is, you know, creative theatre creatures we've never really had. And I'm trying to, you know, I'm trying to keep that at the back of my mind and remind everybody that this is horrible on DH. It's impossible on its dull when it's boring, but we have to take all of the kind of valuable lessons from this that we can said that and hopefully that when it's all over, some of them will remain. And you we will hold on to some of them which will hopefully make us better, more effective, well rounded people, I hope. Sleeve on his net.
spk_2: 18:22
Brilliant. I think that's brilliant. I think also, you know, just just a sort of cat. Finish it off the you know, the whole be kind thing on social media that started actually for this. One of the things that has occurred to me in the last few days is it's very easy to condemn other people who you, whose actions you disapprove off. And there are people who are panicked fine, because they are frightened. There are people who don't seem to be able to hoist in the full enormity of what isolation, etcetera or quarantine really means You. And I think that one of the things that as we move through the stages of grieving, which is what we're going through wave, we've bean in shock. We're currently sort of in anger. A lot of us. Then we will feel sad and then we'll pick ourselves up and get on with it back in kind. Even in these extraordinary circumstances.
spk_0: 19:13
I completely agree. I completely agree. And just remember that it's in these times that we show what we're made off. You know, it's the time to show the world that what you could bring on, what you and that we're grateful for all of the things that we have, right? Yes, there's a lovely,
spk_1: 19:27
deep, profound note to leave all this love. Thank you so much for my liking. You've been listening to Creative's going viral on emergency podcast. Siri's giving you hope on help. Tell your friends about us. Tell them to subscribe. Tell everyone to email us creatives going viral at gmail dot com. Subscribe to our feet for more episodes. Find us on Twitter Creatives going Find us on Facebook. Creatives going viral. Spread the word, Not the virus