The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Backstage workers stage a protest at Perth Concert Hall demanding extra support for the beleaguered events industry.
Backstage workers stepped into the limelight at Perth Concert Hall to demand extra support for Scotland’s beleaguered events industry.
Protesters staged a demonstration outside the city centre venue to highlight problems facing the underthreat sector and show support for operators Horsecross Arts, which is in the process of making more than 100 staff redundant.
The protest, under the #WeMakeEvents banner, came as Horsecross officially pulled the plug on this year’s pantomime.
The planned show, Cinderella, has now been delayed to winter 2021. It will be replaced this year with a “promenade” event, involving small groups of audiences led on a Christmas adventure through Perth Theatre.
Fife-based freelance sound engineer and rigger Jonnie Justice led the demonstration at the concert hall plaza.
Mr Justice previously worked for Bridge of Earn-based events firm
Catalyst, which was last month forced to lose 19 staff.
He said: “If there was a sector-specific extension to furlough or the selfemployment income support scheme, that would help to some extent.
“But then the industry relies on a lot of one-man businesses. The sort of firms that have a warehouse full of kit – PA, staging, lighting, that kind of thing – but there is no market for them at the moment.
“I’ve worked in events for 24 years and now I am applying for jobs driving vans. I don’t have a degree, so there’s a lot of work and better paid jobs I just can’t get into – sadly, I don’t think there’s a one-size fits all solution.”
Those who have bought pantomime tickets can hold on to them for 2021.
The Scottish Government recently announced the Events Industry Support Fund to help the sector.