‘Tear down the class ceiling and rebuild a theatre industry where everyone belongs’
A registered charity with a mission to end class inequality in theatre, today issues a 10-year Manifesto for Change, calling for an end to inequality in the theatre industry.
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.
Today the founders said: “Without urgent action, working-class actors, writers, and audiences will continue to disappear from the industry. Plays will go unwritten, performances unseen, and theatres themselves will grow increasingly disconnected from the diverse society they are meant to serve. The cost of inaction is a hollowed-out, elitist sector – and a loss of the powerful, authentic stories only working-class creatives can tell.”
Ardent envisions a future where at least 50% of theatre creatives and audiences identify as, or were raised, working class.
“Theatre aspires to reflect society – but Britain’s stages are increasingly reserved for the privileged few. Class-based exclusion affects all areas of theatre – acting, playwriting, and audience access. For working-class actors, financial constraints, regional isolation, and the overwhelming dominance of London-based opportunities create near-insurmountable barriers. Those who don’t attend elite drama schools or who lack personal connections often face an impossible choice: abandon their dreams or accept exploitative, unpaid work they can’t afford. Regional graduates must contend with relocation costs, last-minute audition calls that rule out affordable travel, and an overwhelming sense of being ‘outside the loop’.
“Working-class playwrights face an equally punishing system. Development pathways – often unpaid and lengthy – demand time and resources that many simply cannot spare. Without clear strategies or financial support, the sector loses vital new voices before they can even be heard.
“Audiences from working-class backgrounds are also being pushed out. High ticket prices, inaccessible programming, cultural intimidation, and post-pandemic shifts towards at-home entertainment mean live theatre feels increasingly remote. For many, it’s not just a night out – it’s an unaffordable risk.
“At Ardent Theatre Company, we’re done waiting. Our 10-Year Manifesto is a bold call to action: to tear down the class ceiling and rebuild a theatre industry where everyone belongs.”
Ardent’s aims are to:
Create opportunities for working class creatives to connect with potential employers.
Bridge the gap between university actor training and drama school.
Increase paid opportunities for working-class actors.
Influence the sector to increase employability for working-class creatives.
Remove barriers that stop working-class audiences from going to the theatre.
Ardent’s vision is to smash the systemic barriers that lock working-class talent out of the industry.
But they say it is not a vision they can achieve alone.
“We need writers who won’t wait for permission. We need actors who dare to demand more. We need audiences who see themselves – and their communities – represented on stage. We need partners, funders, and allies who believe that culture without inclusion is not culture at all.”
If you are an artist who’s been told you don’t belong – this is your invitation.
If you are an organisation ready to do better – this is your challenge.
If you are a theatregoer who wants to be part of a movement – this is your moment.
Join us. Fund us. Work with us. Challenge us. Together, we can dismantle the elitism baked into British theatre and build a sector rooted in equity, honesty, and shared humanity.
The stage is set. The future is unwritten. Let’s make it a future where class no longer writes the rules.
“The next ten years are not just a strategic roadmap – they are a manifesto for transformation. At Ardent Theatre Company, we refuse to accept a future where class determines creative worth, access or opportunity. We believe theatre should be a mirror to all of society, not a select few. The stories we tell, the people who tell them and the audiences who bear witness – all deserve to be as diverse and authentic as the country we live in. Our vision is bold: to smash the systemic barriers that lock working-class talent out of the industry.”
Each year Ardent produce new plays giving opportunity for working class youngsters from the regions to perform in the capital for the first time. Their productions feature large casts, regional talent and national tours.
In 2026, Ardent will produce four 70-minute new plays written by four working-class playwrights – Florence Espeut-Nickless, Shahid Iqbal Khan, Kelly Jones and Diana Nneka Atuona – who are based in four different regions around the country (Southwest, Northwest, East and Greater London) working under the umbrella title Our Country Now. The plays will rehearse for three weeks in each region with a local director, actors and stage manager followed by a five-week run in London at Southwark Playhouse and a three-week regional tour.
By 2035, Ardent will have reached every region in the country. This is theatre that travels, connects and transforms.
Registered Charity No. 1161320
