Reposted by Benjamin MonkAlex Kanefsky (he/him) @alexkanefsky.bsky.social · 15/02/2025I cannot possibly picture things being any bleaker. Are we just jacking it in? 022
Reposted by Benjamin MonkEve Leigh @eevlee.bsky.social · 07/01/2025So much of the UK’s international stature is based on higher education and in particular on arts and humanities. If the government allows these institutions to collapse it would be unbelievably short-sighted 1163
Reposted by Benjamin MonkCaridad Svich @csvich.bsky.social · 20/12/2024dear theatre, not so long ago we talked abt letting go of burnout culture and toxic work environments we still can. 2214
Reposted by Benjamin MonkLyn Gardner @lyngardnertheatre.bsky.social · 17/12/2024or they start with one and there vision and mission drift as their own continued survival becomes the primary concern. 2224
Reposted by Benjamin MonkCaridad Svich @csvich.bsky.social · 16/12/2024dear theatre, this is how you do it. this is access. for real. if Dan Fishback can do this, so can everyone. learn. listen. do. #theatre 064
Reposted by Benjamin MonkHelen Shaw @helenshaw.bsky.social · 13/12/2024I'm genuinely shocked www.americantheatre.org/2024/12/13/m...americantheatre.orgMAP Fund Retires National Regranting ProgramWith major funders Duke and Mellon pulling out, the 35-year-old program, which awarded nearly $40 million to performing artists, is ending. 382
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 09/12/2024Since 2017, arts funding from national bodies, including for drama, has been cut by 16% in real terms across the UK. In 2024, 41% of schools no longer enter any pupils for Drama GCSE.centralbylines.co.ukDrama has a powerful positive impact on young peopleAs drama teaching faces cuts at school, it must be remembered the profound effect on society’s youth it has, and the force for good it is 821595
Reposted by Benjamin MonkLily Einhorn @madewithstring.bsky.social · 09/12/2024I’m excited by my coaching programme next year. It’s low cost, it’s needed, it’s tested. But how do I get the word out? What newsletters and mailing lists do you read? Help a woman out. www.lilyeinhorn.com/re-inspirelilyeinhorn.comINSPIRE — Lily Einhorn 289
Reposted by Benjamin MonkFreelancers Make Theatre Work @freelancersmake.bsky.social · 05/12/2024"...individuals operating as independents in the arts are at a disadvantage when faced with the hyper-competitive trickle-down economic regimes..." -Susan Jones, independent arts researcher. buff.ly/3VNc5w9 #FreelancersMakeTheatreWork #WeAreCreative #Freelancers 074
Reposted by Benjamin MonkNed Glasier @nedglasier.com · 25/11/2024Simple things the theatre industry could do to to make life easier for workers … Number one - a standard universal basic application form for jobs so that people applying for multiple roles didn’t have to fill in a new one each time. 4253
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 24/11/2024Difficult to describe what a dangerous moment we are in. The owner of Twitter/richest man in the world/closest adviser to the next US president is promoting a far-right Tommy Robinson (!) documentary to his 200 million followers. This is the mainstreaming of violent, Islamophobic fascism. 608167864684
Reposted by Benjamin MonkProf Dave O'Brien @drdaveobrien.bsky.social · 23/11/2024"Lottery grants were intended to work in addition to public funding, not to replace it. In propping up crumbling arts infrastructure, the lottery has helped let governments off the hook. Funding for the arts should not depend on crossing our fingers." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comThe Guardian view on 30 years of the national lottery: winners and losers | EditorialEditorial: From the Angel of the North to the Eden Project, it has transformed the UK’s cultural landscape. But public funding for the arts is still needed 16224
Reposted by Benjamin MonkEve Leigh @eevlee.bsky.social · 23/11/2024“Write every day” is really good advice as long as the bar is incredibly low imo. Write even one word every day and you’re nailing it. Understand that most of it will be garbage no one ever sees. Writing every day is the practice of making your ego less important than actually making stuff. 8454
Reposted by Benjamin MonkCaridad Svich @csvich.bsky.social · 23/11/2024dear theatre, one day we will wonder why so many chose exclusion rather than inclusion 1122
Reposted by Benjamin MonkAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 23/11/2024One thing I find interesting about the echo chamber complaint is that an echo chamber just won a presidential election. Put aside the convo of whether it’s “good” or “bad” for a moment. The far right has devoted enormous resources + time to building echo chambers & loathes spaces they don’t control 15796106310098
Reposted by Benjamin MonkFreelancers Make Theatre Work @freelancersmake.bsky.social · 21/11/2024New resources are now live on our Support pages, focusing on Global Conflict and The Climate Crisis. Explore support for arts freelancers, ways to contribute to change, and a growing library of tools. Learn more here: freelancersmaketheatrework.com/global-confl... #FreelancersMakeTheatreWorkfreelancersmaketheatrework.comIntroducing New Resources: Global Conflict & The Climate Crisis - Freelancers make theatre workOur new resources cover Global Conflict and The Climate Crisis, the support available for freelancers and what we as freelancers. 073
Reposted by Benjamin MonkRob Weinert-Kendt @robkendt.bsky.social · 20/11/2024Some important news: American Theatre is now on Bluesky, so now not only can I repost our stuff here, you can follow us directly at @americantheatre.bsky.social. 0195
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMark Ravenhill @markravenhill.bsky.social · 20/11/2024My essential Theatre books which I use all the time : 2: Theatre of The Oppressed - Augusto Boal This, with Boal’s Games For Actors and Non Actors, has been my guide to practical, democratic theatre making. This year, I’ve used Boal as inspiration in my playwriting classes and workshops 77712
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMark Ravenhill @markravenhill.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Over the next 20 days My 20 essential Theatre books 1: IMPRO - Keith Johnstone My foundational text. The most direct route to creativity. I couldn’t have been a playwright without it. Plus the essential sequel IMPRO FOR STORYTELLERS 99113
Reposted by Benjamin MonkNed Glasier @nedglasier.com · 19/11/2024People talk about “leaving theatre” but there’s a big difference between the industry and the artform. 1254
Reposted by Benjamin MonkKevin Schofield @kevinschofied.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Labour source: "For someone who’s not doing it to avoid inheritance tax, he seems to have an intimate knowledge of the next step he’s going to take to avoid inheritance tax." 31765231
Reposted by Benjamin MonkExeunt Magazine @exeuntmagazine.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Read the full post here: exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/on-bringin... 061
Reposted by Benjamin MonkFrances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 18/11/2024UK deprivation levels have risen to the highest in the 21st century, according to a landmark report. More than one in three children are now in poverty and a quarter of adults. It is a scandal - but so is the pretence that any of this is normal. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...theguardian.comMore than one in three children in poverty as UK deprivation hits record highExclusive: Study finds almost quarter of UK population living in poverty, reaching the highest level this century 11284138
Reposted by Benjamin MonkDan Rebellato @danrebellato.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Social media produces such echo chambers! Why, before Facebook & Twitter, I was forever inviting racists and homophobes round to dinner so I could listen to their views of the world, yes that definitely happened. 3212
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMobius @mobiustheatre.bsky.social · 19/11/2024NEW BLOG POST! We spoke with @hollywilliams.bsky.social all about bringing @exeuntmagazine.bsky.social out of hibernation and what we can expect from the publication as they go live again today! bit.ly/3ZmJaAx @nytimes.com @theindependent.bsky.social @thetls.bsky.social 0146
Reposted by Benjamin MonkDr Laura K (she/her) @laurack.bsky.social · 18/11/2024So much about this sends me into a rage: that children’s theatre is seen as lesser than ‘normal programming’, that children don’t deserve to experience theatre, that it represents the wider British society disdain for young children, etc. 1136
Reposted by Benjamin Monkslate @pleasebegneiss.bsky.social · 18/11/2024[noticing a group of people having a nice time at the park] enjoy your echo chamber 140261134000
Reposted by Benjamin MonkMorgan Lloyd Malcolm @mogster.bsky.social · 18/11/2024Theatre land is tough at the moment isn't it? I'm writing an article at the moment about it and I am struck by how little support there is for freelancers when things go wrong. There's kind of a 'ah well, there's there's the rub, off you pop' vibe. No duty of care. No back ups. Really tough. 1617515
Reposted by Benjamin MonkProspect Union @prospectunion.bsky.social · 07/11/2024Every hour, Disabled workers earn £2.35 less than everyone else. It’s time for change. Let’s end the #DisabilityPayGap We’re calling on government to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting and action plans to end the gap. 097
Reposted by Benjamin MonkWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 16/11/2024Some of the response to the exodus from X to Bluesky is remarkably myopic, often from people who should know far better. X is no longer 'diverse' - it is already an echo chamber, and purposively being engineered as such. 819332
Reposted by Benjamin MonkGraham Cluley @grahamcluley.com · 13/11/2024Researchers say Twitter changed its algorithm to promote posts from Elon Musk and Republicans in the run-up to the election. "The date at which (the spike) in engagement occurs coincides with Elon Musk's formal endorsement of Donald Trump on 13th July 2024." eprints.qut.edu.au/253211/ 681046470
Benjamin Monk @benmonk.bsky.social · 16/11/2024This Metamodern theatre conference - and the book! - sound fascinating: “Postmodern theatre is dead. A new theatre is rising – one that combines the well-worn postmodern aesthetics of irony, detachment, and deconstruction with a paradoxical interest in authenticity, engagement, and re-construction” 082
Reposted by Benjamin MonkCameron Loxdale @cloxdale.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Good morning Bluesky. Here's a helpful starter pack for divorced men named Geoff but one has been murdered. Please help us find the killer. go.bsky.app/KDY26rh 28157131517
Reposted by Benjamin MonkTaylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 14/11/2024It’s so refreshing to spend time in a feed that’s isn’t being artificially pumped full of right wing propaganda all the time 406189501305
Reposted by Benjamin MonkWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 14/11/2024There is a fundamental misunderstanding among the usual suspects (Morgan, Hodges, etc) that people are 'surrendering' or 'deplatforming themselves' by leaving X. Nobody is obligated to stay then the algorithm is fixed against you and exposes you to hate and extreme content. This is not 'free speech' 3847757
Reposted by Benjamin MonkGeorge Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 14/11/2024This is exactly what I was hoping for. Not an echo chamber of consistent opinions, but an echo chamber of consistent respect. It feels like coming home. 31106387
Reposted by Benjamin MonkEmily Garside @emilygarside.bsky.social · 14/11/2024There's a lot of morality-based grandstanding going on about leaving Twitter for here and other places, and it's worth saying it IS a hard decision for those who have built a community there/found a lot of work through those contacts. 3232
Reposted by Benjamin MonkLilly Driscoll @lillydriscoll.bsky.social · 13/11/2024Maybe it's time to actually do something? Now the Guardian are chatting about it. www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...theguardian.comYoung working-class people being ‘blocked’ from creative industries, study findsSutton Trust calls for improved access to creative education and industry dominated by upper middle-class 0164
Reposted by Benjamin MonkEmma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 13/11/2024Just to say, if you know me from twitter, I’ve reinvented myself as a v cool person here. Please don’t let on 535114
Reposted by Benjamin MonkWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 13/11/2024A lot of people are going to be surprised by how quickly X dies as a platform... 3543742
Reposted by Benjamin MonkPaul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 13/11/2024This platform is genuinely becoming useful. It reminds me of the heyday of twitter when you could actually find the latest news, rather than the latest hatred. 271105125
Reposted by Benjamin MonkCarole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 13/11/2024Brave new world that has such people in it… Hello BlueSky. The world is scaring me & I’d like to get off… 1351578185
Reposted by Benjamin MonkDiep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 13/11/2024For my first post here, I want to share how I’ve been feeling lately. I saw Suffs on Broadway on Election Night and Ragtime the night after. Usually I get joy, food for thought at the theater. Last week, I got comfort and hope. And I’m grateful. More thoughts here. www.facebook.com/2544448/post...facebook.com 061
Reposted by Benjamin MonkKieran Hurley @kieranhurley.bsky.social · 13/11/2024Like is there a point where "getting away from the toxic vibes of that other place" overlaps even unknowingly, and perhaps understandably, with "getting away from constant news and imagery of genocide"? Maybe! An ugly and dangerous normalising impulse if so imo and worth countering 2131
Reposted by Benjamin MonkWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 12/11/2024One of the most eye-opening things about the decline of X has been discovering that some smart people are seemingly oblivious or indifferent to the severe degradation of their information environment. 4166587
Reposted by Benjamin MonkChris Sonnex @csonnex.bsky.social · 13/11/2024google spreadsheet for black artists and theatre professionals to put their name to which was created on twitter when it was a nicer place. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...docs.google.comBlack artists & creatives open source list 15937