We cannot afford to live on what you are paying us: Freelancers Make Theatre Work's Big Freelancer Survey 2023

Freelancers Make Theatre Work is an inclusive, independent community for the 200,000+ self-employed and freelance workers from all areas of theatre, opera and live performance, and freelancers make up 70% of the UK theatre workforce.

In June this year they released The Big Freelancer Survey 2023 based on data from 1156 freelancers who responded to the survey, generating 224 pages (83,000+ words) or data! The results are a bit scary, here are the highlights:

• The average income for freelancers working in opera is 11% under the UK average income. We are underpaid.
• There is a gender pay gap of 28% for opera freelancers. We are paid unfairly.
• The average income does not change, whether you have 10, 20 or 30 years’ experience in this industry. In fact, it goes down a little. We have little hope of salary progression.
• 68% of opera freelancers report feeling that their work is quite or very insecure. 68% of opera freelancers earn less than half of their income from actually working in opera. We have chronic job insecurity.
• 78% of London-based opera freelancers are earning less than the average London rent. That is just rent – no other costs. 61% are earning less than the London Living Wage. They could literally make more money working in a posh coffee shop. We cannot afford to live on what you are paying us.

Full report from Freelancers Make Theatre website.