Here are some key ways your support could fuel us to empower women-made theatre:
Paying our actors and company members a fair wage. We currently operate on a profit share basis, but we are determined to transition into paying every theatre professional who works with us. We believe a career in theatre should be for everyone, not only those who can afford to work for little or no pay.
Reaching audiences beyond London. During our tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream, we brought Shakespeare to remote communities who rarely have access to live theatre. The warmth and appreciation we received made clear how vital it is that everyone can experience Shakespeare, regardless of where they live. With so much arts activity centred on London, we want to produce tours that reach wider audiences—but this involves significant costs including transport, accommodation and venue hire.
Growing as a company. There's enormous untapped female talent in our industry due to lack of opportunities for women. We're determined to create more opportunities for skilled, passionate, creative women, but need the resources to do so. We're ambitious: planning tours in the US, aiming for Edinburgh Fringe, and working toward at least two productions a year.
Supporting new talent. We understand how daunting it can be for young women to break into male-dominated Shakespeare. We're passionate about creating transformative opportunities for women at the start of their careers, providing invaluable hands-on experience in professional productions. We've already helped launch promising careers and are determined to continue empowering the next generation.
“Being eighteen, freshly out of school - There were moments that I doubted whether I would be capable of filling the shoes of the wonderful group of women that encompassed The Whole Pack, but I could not have asked for a more supportive cast to work alongside.
As I go off to university to study Musical Theatre, I could not be more thankful for the opportunity the team at The Whole Pack gave me of working in a professional capacity - being so young and able to say I’ve toured with an all-female Shakespeare company will never not amaze me!”
Carys Vaughn Smith, Performer with The Whole Pack
Natalie Rodgers / Speckled Hound Photo