Here is a starter - some thoughts to perhaps provoke

1. To prioritise a better work life balance in the industry - it does not have to be difficult work or unpleasant work to be valid, it could simply be good work, but that attitude still underlies alot of the work made in theatre - we could look to Holland and the US for examples as they seem to be much more predisposed to placing the workers needs to the fore (including of course performers)

2.  Could we review the touring format/ the way we tour in the UK?

There are many points here:

         a.   If in house crews were better trained and better recompensed we could reduce the amount                  of freelancers needed to stage shows - this would reduce the carbon foot print of each show                and would lead to much greater interest/personal investment in each show by the venue                      staff.   

         b.   Could we design shows in such a way that we use more local equipment - this applies to all                departments - it is easier to tour a whole lx rig  but this involves using at least one truck - if                we worked with local equipment then that truck would not be needed, similarly steeldeck                    heavy shows for example all the way down to venues simply having working irons and                      stable ironing boards- there would have to be significant investment in venues' equipment                  but this might be more achievable if local consortia were established where by certain                        equipment is communally owned and can be used within a consortia as required.   I am                      particularly fond of this idea and it is quite clear that hire companies already provide this                    service to some extent.   

         c.  Why do we get-out on a Saturday night?   Why not finish after a Sunday matinee?   This                     would greatly contribute to the improvement of touring crews quality of life and would                       reduce the risk of people driving around the country exhausted in the early hours.  Time off               could be planned and used for personal activities rather then just for recovering.  I have                       twice done daytime get-outs of touring shows and they were strange but very relaxed and                   even efficient.  Sunday shows are working well in the West End - why not extend that to the               rest of the country. 

3.  Can we please review the deals done between touring companies and venues?   The income from the audience is the pie and there is the war of attrition between producers, general managers and venues to get a slightly bigger slice of it. Contracts have become more and more complex and contras on occasions are incomprehensible.   We are working in the same industry, if we work together we might help this industry stay alive, even thrive, but if