We, the staff, artists and supporters of the National Theatre have been inspired by the bold actions of the Climate Strikers around the globe. We wish to respond to their call for workers to support them.
We recognise the immediate need for urgent action on climate change, and the role the arts and culture must play in the transformational changes required to avert social collapse.
In response to the strikers’ call for solidarity, we will be joining them on September 20th to demand action on the climate crisis.
At 10:30 am on Friday 20th we will gather outside the National Theatre with staff from neighbouring arts institutions and march together to the Climate Strike in Trafalgar Square at 11 30 am.
We invite the theatre management to join and support us.
We commend our theatre for its work to reduce the National’s carbon footprint - however, we believe the scale of the crisis demands transformational social change. This is our only viable option, if we are to address the combined emergencies of climate change, the mass extinction of vital biodiversity and a degradation of ecosystems everywhere. The IPCC report tells us that “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” are required to avert social collapse. We believe the key to this radical change isn’t just factual argument, but compelling storytelling – and action.
As theatre workers, we understand the power that stories have to inspire hope, to disrupt norms, to reimagine. We believe that cultural institutions are in a unique position to engage citizens worldwide in the urgency, values and opportunities of a transition away from fossil fuels.
For most of us, professional lives are constrained by financial insecurity. Casual work is consistently vulnerable to change - and without guaranteed hours.
It is extremely easy to feel small in the face of climate breakdown - through fear of not making rent, balancing mental health and falling sick / losing shifts. It is easy to feel powerless to affect change in our workplace. This prevents many of us from contributing meaningfully to the climate movement.
However, the actions of the school strikers have given us hope, we want to lend our voices to their movement.
We ask that the National Theatre joins and supports its staff on September 20th.
We see this as the beginning of a dialogue between staff and management about the role the National and its workers can play in the global climate movement.
Updates
September 20, 2019
The emails I receive from colleagues across the industry are heavy with the reality of what we face. Dealing with the silence from management is exhausting but I am not walking away from this.
September 20, 2019
Seeing the momentum grow has been exhausting but necessary work. I am tired of the status quo and it feels like we are finally starting to rattle those in charge.
Reached 100 supporters
September 20, 2019
15 Comments
I'm an ex-NT staffer. The staff climate strike action is fantastic and a testament to the passionate and creative brains within the organisation.
Please support the climate strikes and lose Shell as a corporate partner. Art needs funding, but it also needs principles.
I think it's important that the NT cuts its ties with oil companies such as Shell. If we want our arts institutions and civic spaces to take serious steps to be more sustainable and be part of the movement to combat climate crisis then it makes no sense for them to still be acting as advertising platforms for the very companies that have contributed and are still contributing to climate change.
We can’t just fiddle and make art while the planet burns. We have to protest too. I fully support the rights of all workers to support the Climate Strike, and should tech allow I hope to be there to add my voice. Samuel West
Vulnerable workers should not face jeopardy of losing their job as part of the NT group by helping to focus everyone to the accuse issues our planet faces.
Glad to hear the National management are supporting tomorrow’s action
The animals do not like it hot- lets dump shell oil in the black and white era, not let it spill onto the stage.
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We, the staff, artists and supporters of the National Theatre have been inspired by the bold actions of the Climate Strikers around the globe. We wish to respond to their call for workers to support them.
We recognise the immediate need for urgent action on climate change, and the role the arts and culture must play in the transformational changes required to avert social collapse.
In response to the strikers’ call for solidarity, we will be joining them on September 20th to demand action on the climate crisis.
At 10:30 am on Friday 20th we will gather outside the National Theatre with staff from neighbouring arts institutions and march together to the Climate Strike in Trafalgar Square at 11 30 am.
We invite the theatre management to join and support us.
We commend our theatre for its work to reduce the National’s carbon footprint - however, we believe the scale of the crisis demands transformational social change. This is our only viable option, if we are to address the combined emergencies of climate change, the mass extinction of vital biodiversity and a degradation of ecosystems everywhere. The IPCC report tells us that “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” are required to avert social collapse. We believe the key to this radical change isn’t just factual argument, but compelling storytelling – and action.
As theatre workers, we understand the power that stories have to inspire hope, to disrupt norms, to reimagine. We believe that cultural institutions are in a unique position to engage citizens worldwide in the urgency, values and opportunities of a transition away from fossil fuels.
For most of us, professional lives are constrained by financial insecurity. Casual work is consistently vulnerable to change - and without guaranteed hours.
It is extremely easy to feel small in the face of climate breakdown - through fear of not making rent, balancing mental health and falling sick / losing shifts. It is easy to feel powerless to affect change in our workplace. This prevents many of us from contributing meaningfully to the climate movement.
However, the actions of the school strikers have given us hope, we want to lend our voices to their movement.
We ask that the National Theatre joins and supports its staff on September 20th.
We see this as the beginning of a dialogue between staff and management about the role the National and its workers can play in the global climate movement.
Updates
September 20, 2019
The emails I receive from colleagues across the industry are heavy with the reality of what we face. Dealing with the silence from management is exhausting but I am not walking away from this.
September 20, 2019
Seeing the momentum grow has been exhausting but necessary work. I am tired of the status quo and it feels like we are finally starting to rattle those in charge.
Reached 100 supporters
September 20, 2019
15 Comments
I fully support the proposed action. I think we must all pull out every stop to influence the policy makers in the fight to save our planet.
I'm an ex-NT staffer. The staff climate strike action is fantastic and a testament to the passionate and creative brains within the organisation.
Please support the climate strikes and lose Shell as a corporate partner. Art needs funding, but it also needs principles.
I think it's important that the NT cuts its ties with oil companies such as Shell. If we want our arts institutions and civic spaces to take serious steps to be more sustainable and be part of the movement to combat climate crisis then it makes no sense for them to still be acting as advertising platforms for the very companies that have contributed and are still contributing to climate change.
We can’t just fiddle and make art while the planet burns. We have to protest too. I fully support the rights of all workers to support the Climate Strike, and should tech allow I hope to be there to add my voice. Samuel West
Vulnerable workers should not face jeopardy of losing their job as part of the NT group by helping to focus everyone to the accuse issues our planet faces.
Glad to hear the National management are supporting tomorrow’s action
The animals do not like it hot- lets dump shell oil in the black and white era, not let it spill onto the stage.
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I fully support the proposed action. I think we must all pull out every stop to influence the policy makers in the fight to save our planet.