Costs of living for theatre professionals

All rings horribly true. There's also within the industry an almost 'fetishised' view of living in poverty, but from those who did it when times were better. I had one artistic director tell me how they lived on a boat in the Thames and worked for no money 'because they had to' but neglecting to say that she had family money behind her so could still, you know eat. Meanwhile actors in their theatre were working for free/next to nothing for the chance to put it on their CVs. And while yes, everyone needs those credits, and yes we all do things for free sometimes, it shouldn't be seen as a 'must do'.

Meanwhile it's getting to the point that 'survival jobs' pay more than acting jobs.

I also don't mean to take away from the actors, because that as described it horrible. But actually the creatives elsewhere are treated and paid even worse. For writers, designers etc who are often paid on a one off fee, the hourly rate is often much less than minimum wage, and no less eats into 'earning money' time than it does for actors away on tour. And yet as with actors, we all have to do it 'for exposure'

And before anyone rides into the thread saying 'don't do it for free then' we all have to- actors to designers to writers- because it's the only chance of progressing. And the more we do it for free, the less people want to pay for it. And so on.

Well quite. 

Same AD asked me why I wasn't seeing fringe theatre in London every week. My answer 'Because I live in Cardiff (and don't own a Tardis or a money pit).'