THE HIVE: frequently asked questions (you can read more on The Hive here or go straight to the open letter here)

Why are they needed?

  • FUTURE-PROOFING THE ARTS: during the Covid 19 pandemic, both amateur groups and professional companies had very few places to perform safely and in an economically sustainable and artistically satisfying way. Equally the vast majority of those wishing to go out to enjoy live performance was unable to do so. This had devastating consequences not only for the industry but for the country as a whole. We believe we need to do all we can to avoid being in this situation again
  • PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SHOWCASE SPACE: while it was right in some ways that institutions were helped to survive, more often than not the freelancers who are their life-blood were left out in the cold. Equally, schools and youth and amateur groups have no quality showcase space. Meanwhile theatres are being forced to close.
  • PANDEMICS ARE ON THE INCREASE (see here): how resilient will we need to be in the future? We are all a little more used to digital offerings now. But what about live performances? How do we want them to look? Increasingly exclusive, or increasingly inclusive? Is simply taking some seats out of a large auditorium, or only allowing a few in, a solution we want? Don’t we need more access, rather than less? Don’t we need more intimacy, sense of ownership, sense of belonging, rather than less? What does the future of the performing arts look like in today’s fast-changing, diverse, truth-hungry world?
  • THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING: there is evidence that people are moving out of cities. But currently, according to this article, outside London there are estimated to be just 244 active professional theatres – for an outside-the-capital population of 60 million. If it is true that #thefutureislocal, this clearly needs a radical rethink. But it needs to be affordable, environmentally sound, and pandemic-proof
  • DIFFICULTIES OF TOURING: what venues there are are often so different from one another that touring for major companies is prohibitively costly. Companies have longer get in times with higher cost of accommodation, for fewer performances and therefore less income

How could a Hive Network help?

  • THE HIVE NETWORK WOULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO ALL THESE ISSUES: working alongside existing venues, and providing affordable and exciting local performance platforms in the heart of communities, it would allow national companies and artists to perform alongside local amateur, school and community groups within a safe as well as environmentally and economically sustainable model. They are designed specifically to encourage good atmosphere and engaging work

Who benefits?

  • audiences, performers, companies, national institutions, schools, amateur and community groups, communities, crews, agents, the media – anybody and everybody connected with live performance on and off stage. They will also provide a wealth of local training opportunities

How does the Hive Network work?

locally managed, multiples form a national network of spaces which can be decorated individually and placed within existing buildings, in urban spaces and parks

like cinemas, they are technically identical on the inside, allowing for greatly reduced get-in times. This means that touring is streamlined and simplified, and companies can play in more than one venue in a single day, which in turn increases revenue and enables high quality content to reach and engage with the largest number of people

they provide showcase space for schools, youth and amateur groups – but also enable us to put these shows right alongside professional content. Open rehearsals, masterclasses, apprentice schemes will happen in spaces which have world class professionals/technicians working in them one moment, and a special needs school concert or community chorus the next

there is no shortage of ideas and stories waiting to be told, with audiences hungry to hear them. Equally there is an entire section of our professional industry who are finding it hard to work abroad following Brexit, and being encouraged to move abroad permanently to sustain a career. There is a huge demand for performance spaces and opportunities, and not enough to go round

What do you see going in them?

  • venues in the Hive Network will be perfect for storytelling events of all kinds where connection and a sense of belonging is a priority
  • classic theatre alongside new live work and operas, comedy, music of every kind, TED talks, with everything engaging at a grass roots level; family friendly concerts, acoustic bands – a hugely diverse and representative output
  • group activities, creative workshops, old spaces revitalised, new places found. Storytelling where it works best – in and for the community
  • the community making their own shows (along the lines of our Urban Opera Project) which run alongside arrangements of @E_N_O’s Magic Flute or @RoyalOperaHouse’s Katya Kabanova, or @NationalTheatre’s Othello or @The_Globe’s Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • @alehousefiddler’s Alehouse Boys playing on the same day as Roddy Williams or Gwyneth Herbert sing a recital backed by local school kids
  • cinema showings with live musicians and acting troupes inspired by @secretcinema alongside live readings of poetry 
  • performers rehearse a show and tour it round the country, playing two dates a day since venues are not that far apart
  • an hour might be the ideal length for a show, and stories and plays could be serialised
  • The Hive gives work to thousands, binding communities, giving them both a platform and inspiration
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