Who they are:
‘All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.’
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Theatre cross-party group is led by Giles Watling, Conservative MP for Clacton, and Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen – both former professional actors with experience of the theatre industry.
UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre are the secretariat of the APPG for Theatre, providing organisational, staff time and strategic support. They will also bring together a group of theatre organisations from across the UK to act as a sounding board and help ensure that a wide range of theatre topics and issues are suggested for the APPG to look into.
What they do:
The APPG’s Statement of Purpose is to:
- To support the resilience and relevance of theatre in the UK for audiences, society and the industry;
- To identify and debate potential opportunities and issues for theatre in the UK;
- To support parliamentarians’ understanding of theatre and the performing arts industry at a national and local level.
APPG for Theatre members will take part in visits to theatres. These visits, organised by the APPG, will be in order to help educate, explain and explore the issues related to the APPG’s current inquiry.
The APPG for Theatre also holds regular meetings to discuss priorities and to hear from expert speakers.
To find out more information about the APPG for Theatre please click here.