Unpaid community theatre work is the norm. This London company wants to change that

Infuse Production’s first project, the Rocky Horror Show, runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2 at the Palace Theatre

The founders of a new community theatre company say they are trying to attract more diverse actors in London by promising to pay them equally for their work.

Infuse Productions is launching with its first performance of the Rocky Horror Show on Thursday, and all cast and crew members will be going home with an equal portion of the ticket sales.

Profit-sharing community theatres are few and far between in London, Infuse co-founder Alexandrea Marsh said, as most of today’s companies rely on volunteer work.

“I think that community theatre is a wonderful thing and a great way to learn. I sometimes see it as a free apprenticeship in a field that’s hard to get into,” said Marsh, who is also producing the Rocky Horror Show.

“But, it’s also important to give these young emerging artists a sense of value for their work and their art,” she said.

London is home to three professional theatre companies, Marsh said, which pay cast and crew members at union rates. However, they often prioritize union members and are highly competitive, leaving emerging artists to cut their teeth in unpaid community theatre projects.

“Working in theatre for free is a privilege, and I didn’t really grow up with that privilege,” Marsh said, adding that it was difficult for her to take time off from part-time jobs to volunteer for productions.

“I’m trying to bridge that gap between those who are privileged enough to take time to work on these projects for free and those who might have not had that opportunity,” she said.

The Rocky Horror Show is a co-production with The Palace Theatre, which will take home half of the production’s profits. Of Infuse’s half, the company will keep a small portion to operate their next show, and split the rest of the funds among 40 cast and crew members.

“This year, it’s certainly not a living wage that we’re paying. It’s more of an honorarium – a couple hundred bucks here or there,” said Infuse co-founder Lisa Cardinal.

“Our goal is that over the years, we can grow and that can become something that is maybe not a full-time job, but something [actors] can feel proud of and have some financial compensation as well.”

Compensation keeps talent local, encourages diversity

Cardinal and Marsh founded the company alongside Melanie Stewart.

By paying cast and crew, the women said they hope this will encourage a more diverse theatre scene in London.

“Community theatre can sometimes have a lack of representation from a particular socioeconomic background,” said Marsh, adding that this is especially true when people leave the city to find paid work.

Cardinal, who sits on London’s Musical Theatre Productions board, said bringing new voices to the stage is a priority across the city.

“The theatre community has a general lack of diversity,” she said. “We’ve been asking this question of, ‘How do we start to welcome new people in and welcome communities that we don’t necessarily see on the stage?”

Infuse’s all-local cast and crew have been preparing for their production of the Rocky Horror Show for three months, Cardinal said, adding that they will also host a nightly pre-show featuring a live band, photobooth and themed cocktails.

The company is also selling t-shirts and “prop bags” for audience members to participate in the show, with all profits from those sales going directly to the performers.

The Rocky Horror Show will run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2 at the Palace Theatre, and tickets are available on the theatre’s website.

By Kendra Seguin · CBC News