BRINGING THE CURTAIN DOWN
ON CLASS INEQUALITY IN THEATRE

Ardent was inspired by the first-hand experiences of its founders Mark Sands and Andrew Muir of growing up in working-class families in the provinces and combating practical socio-economic and geographic barriers to forge a career in an industry that seemed only accessible to the privileged few.

CORE PURPOSE

To end class inequality in theatre.

CORE VALUES

No one feels like an outsider
Everyone has the right to a voice
Artists are paid fairly
Theatre is for everyone

KEY GOAL

At least 50% of creatives working in theatre and 50% of audiences attending theatre identify as, or were raised, working class.

KEY AIMS

  1. Create opportunities for working class creatives to connect with potential employers.

  2. Bridge the gap between university actor training and drama school.

  3. Increase paid opportunities for working-class actors.

  4. Influence the sector to increase employability for working-class creatives.

  5. Remove barriers that stop working-class audiences from going to the theatre.

OUR WORK

PRODUCTIONS: Plays by writers who identify as, or were raised, working class.
ARDENT8: Career progression programme for graduate acting students who identify as, or were raised, working class.
ARDENT VOICES: A platform for sharing lived experiences from within the industry.
ARDENT RESOURCES: Free online learning tools for early career artists.
ADVOCACY: Using our voice to push for class equality in theatre.

READ OUR 10 YEAR MANIFESTO

  • Thanks to the following previous trustees:

    Rebecca Hunt
    Saleem Fazal MBE
    Jacky Hilary
    Andrea Ortiz
    Erin Gavaghan
    Wayne Tassie

SUPPORTERS

GRANTS AND SPONSORS

CURRENT FUNDERS

Arts Council England
The Bagheera Trust
Bleu Blanc Rouge Foundation
The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation
Chapman Charitable Trust
Cockayne - Grants for the Arts
Dan's Force Fund
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Enterprise Arts Trust
The Foyle Foundation
Hays Travel Foundation
Katie Bradford Arts Trust
Noël Coward Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Speedomick Foundation
The Vandervell Foundation
The Victoria Wood Foundation

PREVIOUS FUNDERS

The Ernest Cook Trust
Fenton Arts Trust
The Garrick Charitable Trust
GFTU Education Trust
The Golsoncott Foundation
The Grocers Charity
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund
The Leche Trust
The Lipman-Miliband Trust
The London Community Foundation
The Mercers' Company
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Royal Victoria Hall Foundation
Society for the Study of Labour History
Teale Charitable Trust
Unison North West Region
Unity Theatre Trust

DONATIONS

Richard O’Brien, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Ciarán Hinds and Jonathan Pryce.

Aimee Kember, Alan Atkins, Alan Bennett, Alan Haughton, Alan Jones, Alison Steadman, Alison Utting, Alistair Dodds, Amanda Mckenzie, Amelia Goulder-Perks, Amirah Alabere, Amy Cradick, Andrea Ortiz, Andrew Murphy,   Andrew Wheaton, Angela Crispim, Angela Sutherland, Anne-Marie Duff, Annie Firbank, Anthony Prior, Bairbre McKendrick, Barry Kitcherside, Ben De Wynter, Ben Fredericks, Bethan Dean, Bob Cryer, Bob Newland, Brian Cox, Brid Burke, Carl Christopher, Catherine Whittaker, C Finnerty, Cecelia Morgan, Charles Glanville, Charlie Kinsella, Charlie Kiss, Charlotte Beaton, Chloe, Brown, Chris O’Dowd, Christopher Rogers, Ciara Phelan, Clare Hawkins, Colm O'Brien, Corrie Hanton-Dean, Curtis Holder, Daniel Johnson, Danielle Laurence, Dan Sellick, Darryl Clark, David George, David Gibney, David Godfrey, David Hare, David Harris, David and Jenny Hendon, David and Brenda Rogers, David Teale, Deborah Hassan, Debra Field, Derek Jacobi, Des Fleming, Dina Lucas, Edward Sweatman, Eleanor Davies, Eleanor Kaufman, Eleonora Rossotto, Elizabeth Hill, Eluned Hawkins, Emma Davis, Enzo Viola, Erin Gavaghan, Fiona Harrington, Frances Anderson-lamb, Francis Matthews, Freya Purdy, Gabriel Byrne, Gabriel Vick, Gary Donaldson, Gary Merry, Gerald Lydon, Germaine Morgan, Grace Collender, Grant Hawkins, Helen Ryan, Ian Hart, Jacqueline Hilary, Ide Corley, James McCarthy, James Muncaster, James Trayler, Jane Bridgeford, Jane Donovan, Jane Gollogly, Jennie Cooke, Jessica Higgs, Jeremy Todd, Jimmy Lee, Joan Francis-Odutola, Joanne Hedley, Joanna Lumley, Joanne Simmonds, Jo Brand, Johanna Pfaelzer, John Causebrook and Anthony Field Associates, John Collins,John Riches, Josh O'Connor, Joyce Mahon, Juan Carlos Vieira De Gouveia, Julie Walters, Julian Ward, Karrim Jalali, Kamilah Hassan, Karen West-Whylie, Kate Roberts, Katie Purslow, Katie Weston, Katy Smyth, Kay Cousins, Kelley Dolan, Kelly Fagan Robinson, Kerena Fussell, Lela Kogbara, Lesley Hutber, Liam Neeson, Lily Wallis, Linda Marslin, Liza Ward, Lorraine Kelly, Louise Creber, Louise Stern, Marcus Hammond, Maria Stylianou-O'Neill, Margaret Ling, Margaret Ward, Mark Hopkinson, Mark Skimins, Matthew Rice, Matt Lucas, Melanie Hurst, Michael Flesch, Michael Gaines, Michael McEvoy, Michael Sanders, Michele Winstanley, Mike Leigh, Nick Smith, Nicola Richardson, Olivia Israel, Paul Murphy, Paul O'Connor, Penny Horner, Peter Abraham, Peter Power-Hynes, Philip Wilson, Poppy Spillane, Rachel Sims, Rachel Welch, Rebecca Hunt, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Richard and Billy Heath, Richard Batt, Richard Manuel, Richard Pearce, Richard Muir, Rita and Ralph Sands, Robert Drummer, Robert Lugg, Robert Wolstenholme, Rosemary Jones, Ross Myddelton, Russell Beaton, Saleem Fazal, Sally Grey, Sam Weston, Sarah Atherton, Sarah Davies, Sarah-Jane Ash, Sarah Mead, Sarah Reilly, Scott Mckenzie, Sean Green, Sheila Moylette, Sheilah Muir, Simon Sapper, Sinead Howlin, Siobhan McMahon, Sonia Sudhakar, Sophie Coulter, Sophie Ward, Spencer Simmons, Stephen Johnson, Stephen Ridal, Stephen Rowlatt, Susan Clarke, Sylvester McCoy, Tanya Pearce, Theresa Tully, Thomas Lawrie, Thomas Mason, Tim Davies, Tim Kitching, Tom Stoppard, Tony Manning, Tracie Tull-Peirce, Tracy Ryan, Triona Desmond, Tudor Toma, Wayne Tassie, Yvonne Warham, Zoe Lally.