BRINGING THE CURTAIN DOWN
ON CLASS INEQUALITY IN THEATRE

Ardent was inspired by the first-hand experiences of its founders Mark Sands and Andrew Muir of growing up in working-class families in the provinces and combating practical socio-economic and geographic barriers to forge a career in an industry that seemed only accessible to the privileged few.

CORE PURPOSE

To end class inequality in theatre

CORE VALUES

No one should feel like an outsider
Everyone has the right to a voice
Artists deserve fair pay
Audiences deserve a quality experience
Theatre should be for everyone

OUR GOALS

At least 50% of actors employed in theatre are from working-class backgrounds

To achieve this we will:

  • Promote acting as a viable profession

  • Close the gap in actor training between University and Drama School

  • Provide better support for working-class actors

  • Increase paid opportunities for working-class actors

Anyone who wants to access theatre as an audience member has that opportunity

To achieve this we will:

  • Promote theatre as a valuable form of entertainment

  • Remove barriers that prevent working-class audiences going to the theatre

OUR WORK

Our work consists of the following 5 strands:

PRODUCTIONS: Commissioned plays or existing texts that champion the outsider voice.
ARDENT8: Career progression programme for working-class acting graduates outside London.
ARDENT VOICES: In-person and online public platforms that give voice to the outsider.
ARDENT RESOURCES: Free online learning resources for early career artists and audiences.
ADVOCACY: Using our own voice to advocate for class equality across in theatre.

WHO WE ARE

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Mark Sands and Andrew Muir
Photo by Michael-David McKernan

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Rebecca Hunt
(Chair)

Saleem Fazal MBE

Thomas Mason

LEGACY TRUSTEES

Thanks to the following for their support as previous trustees:

Erin Gavaghan
Wayne Tassie
Andrea Ortiz
Jacky Hilary

SUPPORTERS

GRANTS AND SPONSORS

Arts Council England
The Bagheera Trust
The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation
Chapman Charitable Trust
Cockayne - Grants for the Arts
Dan's Force Fund
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The Ernest Cook Trust
Fenton Arts Trust
The Foyle Foundation
The Garrick Charitable Trust
GFTU Education Trust
The Golsoncott Foundation
The Grocers Charity
Hays Travel Foundation
Katie Bradford Arts Trust
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund
The Leche Trust
The Lipman-Miliband Trust
The London Community Foundation
The Mercers' Company
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Noël Coward Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Royal Victoria Hall Foundation
Society for the Study of Labour History
Teale Charitable Trust
Unison North West Region
Unity Theatre Trust

DONATIONS

Ian McKellen and Richard O’Brien

Aimee Kember, Alan Atkins, Alan Haughton, Alan Bennett, Alison Steadman, Alison Utting, Amanda Mckenzie, Amelia Goulder-Perks, Amy Cradick, Andrea Ortiz, Andrew Murphy,   Andrew Wheaton, Angela Crispim, Angela Sutherland, Anne-Marie Duff, Annie Firbank, Anthony Prior, Bairbre McKendrick, Barry Kitcherside, Ben De Wynter, Ben Fredericks, Bethan Dean, Bob Cryer, Bob Newland, Brian Cox, Brid Burke, Carl Christopher, Catherine Whittaker, C Finnerty, Cecelia Morgan, Charles Glanville, Charlie Kinsella, Charlie Kiss, Charlotte Beaton, Chloe, Brown, Chris O’Dowd, Christopher Rogers, Ciara Phelan, Ciarán Hinds, Clare Hawkins, Colm O'Brien, Curtis Holder, Daniel Johnson, Danielle Laurence, Darryl Clark, David George, David Gibney, David Godfrey, David Hare, David Harris, David and Jenny Hendon, David and Brenda Rogers, David Teale, Deborah Hassan, Debra Field, Derek Jacobi, Des Fleming, Dina Lucas, Edward Sweatman, Eleanor Kaufman, Eleonora Rossotto, Elizabeth Hill, Eluned Hawkins, Emma Thompson, Enzo Viola, Erin Gavaghan, Fiona Harrington, Frances Anderson-lamb, Francis Matthews, Freya Purdy, Gabriel Byrne, Gabriel Vick, Gary Donaldson, Gary Merry, Gerald Lydon, Germaine Morgan, Grace Collender, Grant Hawkins, Helen Ryan, Ian Hart, Jacqueline Hilary, Ide Corley, James McCarthy, James Trayler, Jane Bridgeford, Jane Donovan, Jane Gollogly, Jennie Cooke, Jessica Higgs, Jeremy Todd, Joan Francis-Odutola, Joanne Hedley, Joanna Lumley, Joanne Simmonds, Jo Brand, Johanna Pfaelzer, John Causebrook and Anthony Field Associates, John Collins,John Riches, Jonathan Pryce, Josh O'Connor, Joyce Mahon, Juan Carlos Vieira De Gouveia, Julie Walters, Judi Dench, Julian Ward, Karrim Jalali, Kamilah Hassan, Karen West-Whylie, Katie Purslow, Katie Weston, Katy Smyth, Kay Cousins, Kelley Dolan, Kelly Fagan Robinson, Kerena Fussell, Lela Kogbara, Lesley Hutber, Liam Neeson, Lily Wallis, Linda Marslin, Liza Ward, Louise Creber, Louise Stern, Marcus Hammond, Margaret Ling, Margaret Ward, Mark Hopkinson, Mark Skimins, Matthew Rice, Matt Lucas, Melanie Hurst, Michael Flesch, Michael Gaines, Michael McEvoy, Michael Sanders, Michele Winstanley, Nick Smith, Nicola Richardson, Paul Murphy, Paul O'Connor, Penny Horner, Peter Abraham, Peter Power-Hynes, Philip Wilson, Rachel Sims, Rachel Welch, Rebecca Hunt, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Richard and Billy Heath, Richard Manuel, Richard Pearce, Richard Muir, Rita and Ralph Sands, Robert Drummer, Robert Lugg, Robert Wolstenholme, Rosemary Jones, Ross Myddelton, Russell Beaton, Saleem Fazal, Sally Grey, Sam Weston, Sarah Atherton, Sarah Davies, Sarah-Jane Ash, Sarah Mead, Sarah Reilly, Scott Mckenzie, Sheilah Muir, Simon Sapper, Sinead Howlin, Siobhan McMahon, Sonia Sudhakar, Sophie Coulter, Sophie Ward, Spencer Simmons, Stephen Johnson, Stephen Ridal, Stephen Rowlatt, Susan Clarke, Sylvester McCoy, Tanya Pearce, Theresa Tully, Thomas Lawrie, Thomas Mason, Tim Davies, Tim Kitching, Tom Stoppard, Tony Manning, Tracie Tull-Peirce, Tracy Ryan, Triona Desmond, Tudor Toma, Wayne Tassie, Yvonne Warham, Zoe Lally.