Positive steps on National Theatre primary schools touring

Equity has secured positive developments in relation to National Theatre primary school touring, following a meeting with National Theatre management where a petition was also handed in.

A delegation including representatives from the Equity Class Network, Student Deps Committee, Green New Deal and Equity staff, met with National Theatre management at the beginning of June. The meeting was secured after months of campaigning, spearheaded by Equity’s Class Network, following disappointment and uproar at the National Theatre’s decision in 2024 to axe primary school touring from its portfolio of work.

During the meeting, a petition with over 1,500 signatures was handed over to National Theatre management, in person and on-site at the National Theatre on London’s South Bank. The petition, addressed to National Theatre Director and Co-Chief Executive Indhu Rubasingham along with the board of trustees, says “the National Theatre changed young people’s lives” and presents a strong demand that primary school touring is a non-negotiable.

As a result of the campaign, which is also about protecting and developing the pathways that sustain the industry, positive developments have been announced by the National Theatre in regards to reinstating primary schools touring in the coming year, and this was discussed at the meeting.

Stephanie Greer, Chair of the Equity Class Network, who was present at the meeting, said: “The National Theatre has a responsibility to serve all of its community. By cutting its Primary Touring Programme it was abandoning the next generation and some of the most vulnerable in our society. Our National Theatre should be just that and serve all of the nation. All children should have access to live theatre as part of their education, not only the privileged few. 

“We are delighted that the NT has decided to reinstate its Primary School touring programme and look forward to further conversation with them in the coming months to ensure those from lower socio economic backgrounds are not forgotten."

The campaign has been led by the Equity Class Network and is backed by many of the union’s industrial and equalities committees and branches, who have promoted the campaign in their local communities.

Equity Assistant General Secretary for Live Performance, Adam Adnyana, joined the delegation to the meeting with National Theatre management. He described it as a “positive and constructive meeting”, going on to comment: “Equity will continue to work to raise awareness of the importance of the touring programme and to present the compelling case that live theatre is transformational to children especially those from working class backgrounds.

“There remain questions to be answered, especially around the process for the decision to cut Primary Touring, and the Equity Class Network aims to continue to nurture accountability and transparency through a deeper ongoing relationship with the National Theatre in relation to primary and secondary schools touring.”