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

OUR GOALS

At least 50% of actors employed in theatre are from working-class backgrounds.
At least 50% of audience members attending theatre are from working-class backgrounds.

OUR AIMS

Create opportunities for artists from working-class backgrounds to connect with potential employers.
Close the gap in actor training between University and Drama School.
Increase paid opportunities for working-class actors.
Influence the sector to increase employability for those from working-class backgrounds.
Remove barriers that stop working-class audiences from going to the theatre.

OUR WORK

PRODUCTIONS: Plays by writers from working-class backgrounds.
ARDENT8: Career progression programme for graduate acting students from working-class backgrounds.
ARDENT VOICES: A platform to share thoughts, ideas and experiences from within the industry.
ARDENT RESOURCES: Free online learning resources for early career artists.
ADVOCACY: Using our voice to advocate for class equality.

WHO WE ARE

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Mark Sands and Andrew Muir
Photo by Michael-David McKernan

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

  • David Harris was originally a Stage Manager and Company Manager working in repertory theatre and on musicals, pantomimes and touring productions. He is a qualified Company Secretary and MBA and was Business Manager at Company of Angels (now Boundless Theatre), Finance Manager at Told by An Idiot and Business Manager at Simon Spencer Productions. He was a Board Member of the Dramaturgs’ Network and worked on drafting the freelance contract for dramaturgs that has been adopted by the Independent Theatre Council. He was joint winner of the 2023 Elliott Hayes Award for an outstanding achievement in dramaturgy.

    Outside the theatre industry, David has been the Chief Executive of human rights law firm Bindmans LLP, Company Secretary for an Independent Publisher and a specialist in the strategic development of charities.

    As a volunteer, David has been Chair of the Governing Body of inner city primary school, a trustee of the Family Planning Association, the Chair of Trustees of the Family Planning Association Pension Scheme, an Executive Committee member of the Legal Practice Management Group, a Member of the Law Management Section of the Law Society, and a Committee member of marketing and business section of Waterloo Quarter – a local authority business improvement district in London SE1

  • Gigi Pacifico is a creative and results-driven manager with a passion for theatre, community engagement, and accessibility in the arts. She is currently the Assistant Centre Manager at Workspace Fuel Tank, where she oversees operations, events, and community partnerships, managing a £50k monthly budget and coordinating multiple teams to ensure seamless service delivery. Prior to this, she was Assistant Manager at General People, where she played a key role in driving revenue, developing training programmes, and launching CSR initiatives that connected local organizations with much-needed resources.

    Gigi’s background in theatre spans both management and creative roles. She holds a BA in Contemporary Theatre from Bournemouth University and has worked as a Social Media Manager for Ardent Theatre Company, successfully engaging audiences and expanding the company’s reach. She first joined ARDENT8 as a member in 2019 and is thrilled to return as a trustee, championing greater representation and accessibility within the arts. Passionate about elevating working-class voices in theatre, Gigi is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring the next generation of artists, producers, and theatre lovers have the opportunities they deserve.

  • Dan is a general manager and producer who is currently working for Playful Productions. Having joined their team in 2023 he has been general manager on The Unfriend at Wyndham's Theatre, The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth and Macbeth at The Harold Pinter, as well as working on various developing productions across various stages. Prior to joining Playful he worked in the production department of The Really Useful Group, working on the West End productions of School of Rock, Phantom of the Opera and Cinderella as well as the international productions of Starlight Express in Bochum, The Phantom of the Opera Mandarin Language tour and Joseph and the Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat UK and Australian Tours. He previously worked with The Shakespeare Schools Festival and produced immersive theatre across London. Dan has a degree in History from Queen Mary, University of London which he finds little use for on a day-to-day basis but very useful for a pub quiz. Having accidentally made a relatively successful go of working in theatre, despite having no connections to the industry when he moved to London, he is keen to ensure that future generations of artists, producers and theatre lovers have an opportunity to make a career in this industry regardless of their background, and is delighted to be able to support the next ten years of great work from Mark and Andrew.

  • Thanks to the following previous trustees:

    Erin Gavaghan
    Saleem Fazal MBE
    Wayne Tassie
    Andrea Ortiz
    Jacky Hilary

SUPPORTERS

GRANTS AND SPONSORS

Arts Council England
The Bagheera Trust
The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation
Chapman Charitable Trust
Cockayne - Grants for the Arts
Dan's Force Fund
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The Ernest Cook Trust
Fenton Arts Trust
The Foyle Foundation
The Garrick Charitable Trust
GFTU Education Trust
The Golsoncott Foundation
The Grocers Charity
Hays Travel Foundation
Katie Bradford Arts Trust
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund
The Leche Trust
The Lipman-Miliband Trust
The London Community Foundation
The Mercers' Company
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Noël Coward Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Royal Victoria Hall Foundation
Society for the Study of Labour History
Teale Charitable Trust
Unison North West Region
Unity Theatre Trust

DONATIONS

Ian McKellen and Richard O’Brien

Aimee Kember, Alan Atkins, Alan Haughton, Alan Bennett, Alison Steadman, Alison Utting, Amanda Mckenzie, Amelia Goulder-Perks, 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, Ciarán Hinds, Clare Hawkins, Colm O'Brien, Curtis Holder, Daniel Johnson, Danielle Laurence, 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 Kaufman, Eleonora Rossotto, Elizabeth Hill, Eluned Hawkins, Emma Thompson, 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 Trayler, Jane Bridgeford, Jane Donovan, Jane Gollogly, Jennie Cooke, Jessica Higgs, Jeremy Todd, Joan Francis-Odutola, Joanne Hedley, Joanna Lumley, Joanne Simmonds, Jo Brand, Johanna Pfaelzer, John Causebrook and Anthony Field Associates, John Collins,John Riches, Jonathan Pryce, Josh O'Connor, Joyce Mahon, Juan Carlos Vieira De Gouveia, Julie Walters, Judi Dench, Julian Ward, Karrim Jalali, Kamilah Hassan, Karen West-Whylie, 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, Louise Creber, Louise Stern, Marcus Hammond, Margaret Ling, Margaret Ward, Mark Hopkinson, Mark Skimins, Matthew Rice, Matt Lucas, Melanie Hurst, Michael Flesch, Michael Gaines, Michael McEvoy, Michael Sanders, Michele Winstanley, Nick Smith, Nicola Richardson, Paul Murphy, Paul O'Connor, Penny Horner, Peter Abraham, Peter Power-Hynes, Philip Wilson, Rachel Sims, Rachel Welch, Rebecca Hunt, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Richard and Billy Heath, 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, 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.