We are addressing the urgent lack of working-class representation in theatre. While 56% of Britons identify as working class, representation in the creative industries has fallen sharply. Creative Access reports numbers have halved since the 1970s, and sector research shows representation as low as 8.4%, down from 16% in 2020. The gap is widening, not improving.

We will centre working‑class voices through Our Country Now, a national festival of four new plays by writers from different regions. Each play is rehearsed and cast locally, then presented in repertory and toured to major regional venues. By embedding production in communities, paying artists properly and keeping tickets accessible, we remove barriers to entry, build sustainable pathways and reconnect theatre with the people it should represent.