Theatre Artists Fund

Our Story

Between July 2020 and March 2022, THEATRE ARTISTS FUND realised emergency funds for theatre freelancers across the UK in need of critical financial aid, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the theatre sector.

£9.9 million, including £1.9m from Department for Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England, was raised to distribute 9,964 emergency grants, towards living costs such as rent, food, and electricity, alongside signposting to mental-health support.

We remain tremendously grateful to everyone who donated their time, creativity, and money for this major and necessary campaign. Thank you.


Our Supporters


Adam Kenwright
Aditya and Martha Mehta
Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
Benedict Cumberbatch & Sophie Hunter
Blavatnik Family Foundation
Caro Newling
Catherine Johnson
Celia Atkin
Christina Smith Foundation
Colin Firth
Corniche Trust Company Ltd
The Coutts Foundation
Eddie Redmayne
Eric Fellner, CBE
Es Devlin
Garfield Weston Foundation
Heather Acton & Peter Williams
Hugh Bonneville
Ian McKellen, ATG Productions and Sean Mathias
Imelda Staunton
Jack Thorne
Jason Manford
Jim Broadbent
Jim Carter
John Coates Charitable Trust
Jonathan and Maya Nelson
Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg
Kenny Wax and Mark Bentley
Lee Hall and Beeban Kidron
The Linbury Trust
Lockdown Theatre Ltd
Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
Mark Knopfler
Michelle Dockery
Mischief Theatre
MJE Productions Ltd
Nicholas Hytner
The Options Fund
The Parry Family
Peggy Ramsay Foundation
Peter Morgan
Phyllida Lloyd
Pippa Harris and Richard McBrien
Rach Ireland
The Roald Dahl Story Company Ltd
Ralph Fiennes
Robert Sudos
Sam Mendes
Simpson Fox Associates Ltd
Sonia Friedman
Steve Pemberton
Swire Charitable Trust
The Tisdale Family Foundation
Tom Hiddleston

Creative Workforce Pilot Programme


In July 2021, Sir Sam Mendes announced that a pilot programme, creating employment opportunities, was going into development.

Working in conjunction with Backstage Trust and Theatre Development Trust, we have designed a programme which will help to nurture and develop the creative workforce, in collaboration with performing arts venues across the UK.

Starting in Autumn 2022 and culminating in Spring 2026, the pilot will realise twenty full-time jobs, each running for 2 years, for people working in craft and technical disciplines at emerging and mid-career level. Alongside economic stability, each person will be supported with integrated training, and mentoring from established freelance theatre artists. Through this process, our aim is to identify new ways of working to help people develop their careers, encourage positive change for organisations, and benefit the wider creative industries and our communities.

Our appreciation for supporting the Pilot Programme goes to:



Jacqueline & Richard Worswick

With additional support from MAMA Exhibition Group and one anonymous donor.

To offer your support for this programme, please contact: theatreartistsfund@soltukt.co.uk