2020 has been quite a year as I am sure you can all agree! Our staff normally like to end the term with a Christmas Meal, a rare opportunity for our large team to get together. So in response to the lack of party, we decided to get our staff a gift, that has meant we could not only treat our staff but help our friends in the theatre industry too.
It has only been in the past few weeks theatre shows have been able to begin to make their comeback. In Tiers 1 & 2, theatres can open to a 50% capacity audience, much less that it takes for many shows to survive. Shows such a ‘Six’, ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ and ‘Pantoland’ are taking huge steps to revive this industry but thousands of individuals still go without work, and many fall between the cracks of the governments’ financial help.
Many theatre industry workers, from performers to stage managers, to lighting designers to the front of house staff have turned their talents elsewhere. Making and selling hand crafted items, gifts, and edibles! This Christmas we have given our staff hampers, containing lots of these little gifts inside.
We wanted to shout about these companies – in time for you to be able to browse through their offerings and maybe grab some last-minute Christmas gifts for your loved ones. We would like to thank each and every supplier for allowing us to include their gorgeous products in our hampers, and we hope that they get back to their ‘real jobs’ really soon.
‘Not On The West End’ is a company set up to shout about those in the industry who have had to turn their talents elsewhere – take a browse and see what you can find! www.notonthewestend.co.uk | |
Memory Lane Craft UK is run by Leonie a Deputy Stage Manager for the last 20 years and her most recent credit was Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. She creates bespoke, handmade scrapbooks, greetings cards, gift tags, and more. https://www.etsy.com/shop/memorylanecraftuk/ Facebook & Instagram @memorylanecraftuk | |
Adam, a lighting programmer, and production electrician and has created Vintage Vegan Candle Co who specialise in beautifully scented candles http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintagevegancandleco Facebook @Vintagevegancandles Instagram @Vintage_vegan_candle_co | |
‘Wicked’ star Ashleigh, has played Elphaba around the world and has now set up Crafty Ashleigh, who supply key fobs, Christmas stockings and hand made face masks. The most gorgeous selection of fabrics on offer! www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CraftyAshleighShop Social media @CraftyAshShop |
The wonderful wardrobe departments on shows are made up of so many people, from dressers to makers, designers, and more; here we have a few of them who are using their fabric talents elsewhere.
Aisling (who was on our technical theatre masterclass back in July) at Galway Sew Studios sells facemasks and the most gorgeous Christmas decoration bows handmade from fabric
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GalwaySewStudio
Instagram @galwaysewstudio
Amy crated The Sewing Loft has worked on Les Miserables and Dreamgirls set up her store making face masks alongside stunning Oragami Fabric Christmas Stars to decorate your tree and sells these on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheSewingLoftByAmy
Instagram @the.sewingloft
Clare and Amy, from Tina The Musical wardrobe department created A Classy Christmas and sell gorgeous Christmas decorations for your home.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AClassyChristmas
SBDesignsjewellery was created by Sara-Lee, a stage manger, who now sells small and intricate jewellery perfect for a small gift for a loved one.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SBDesignsjewellery
Facebook & Instagram @SBDesignsjewellery
Amy Kelly is a graphic designer for Northern Ballet and sells her fun and creative prints whilst she is on furlough.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/amykellydraws/
Facebook @amykellydesign Instagram @amykelly_18
Oh My Sweets – the sweetest gift of them all! Set up by Dan & Stephen, a stage manger & head of lighting. Boxes of pick and mix sweets and they cater for so many dietary requirements – you can’t go wrong!
Social media @ohmysweetsuk
You may well have seen The show must go on, on social media, and never has a phrase been more true – check out https://theatresupportfund.co.uk/products/the-show-must-go-on-unisex-tshirt to see how you can get your hands on some merch and support the industry too.