News | Entertainment
3 Jul 2025 17:03
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Sir Sam Mendes has launched a fund geared towards providing financial support to theatre workers amid the coronavirus pandemic

    The fund has been established with a a £500,000 donation from Netflix, and is being aimed at the UK's theatre workers who find themselves at financial breaking point, or are considering leaving the profession altogether


    Sam explained: "Thousands of theatre professionals in the UK are struggling.

    "Many of them haven't been able to get help from the existing government schemes, and the situation continues to worsen. They need help now.

    "We have created a fund to which the most vulnerable freelance theatre practitioners can now apply."

    Sam has called on individual donors and organisations to lend their support to the fund, insisting it will "make a difference".

    The acclaimed filmmaker said: "The fund has been initiated by a donation from Netflix and I am extremely grateful for their remarkable generosity and leadership.

    "Although the money is initially limited, I hope that it will encourage other individual donors and charitable organisations. The more money that is donated to the fund, the more grants we will be able to give out. So please do consider a donation.

    "I promise it will make a difference."

    Anne Mensah, the vice-president of original series at Netflix, said: "Creativity is all about collaboration, and we are deeply concerned by the challenges our friends in the theatre now face, especially in the regions, and the likely consequences for the diverse voices and stories at the heart of our culture.

    "Playwrights and directors, theatre artists and performers, composers and comedians, are the lifeblood of our industry too and, while Netflix has been more fortunate than many, in the end we are only as strong as the people we work with."

    The fund provides grants of up to £1,000 per applicant and is geared towards supporting freelance artists in the UK.

    The government is also creating a £1.57 billion support package to help the arts industry in the UK, which has been thrown into turmoil by the pandemic.

    It's hoped the bailout will help to protect the future of Britain's museums, galleries and theatres.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     03 Jul: Jennifer Aniston wants to star in a Broadway show
     03 Jul: Neil Young joked about his dispute with the BBC after taking to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury
     03 Jul: Henry Golding thinks playing James Bond would be a "nightmare"
     03 Jul: Porsha Williams is taking a break from dating after finalising her divorce from Simon Guobadia
     03 Jul: Adult film star Kylie Paige has died aged 28
     03 Jul: Tom Sandoval found it "really hard" to overcome his cheating scandal
     03 Jul: Jana Kramer has accepted jobs that challenge her "moral compass"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Rieko Ioane will start on the wing for the All Blacks for the first time in three and a half years when the test season gets underway against France on Saturday night More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Consumer spending's continuing to pick up More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    Rieko Ioane will start on the wing for the All Blacks for the first time in three and a half years when the test season gets underway against France on Saturday night 16:57

    Boxing:
    Retirement hasn't lasted long for British boxing icon Tyson Fury 16:37

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Aniston wants to star in a Broadway show 16:36

    Basketball:
    Kiwi basketballer Tyrell Harrison will play for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League 16:17

    Politics:
    Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ has passed the US Senate – these are the winners and losers 16:07

    International:
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs: The rise, fall and acquittal of a hip hop mogul 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Neil Young joked about his dispute with the BBC after taking to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 16:06

    Entertainment:
    Henry Golding thinks playing James Bond would be a "nightmare" 15:36

    Rugby:
    Tupou Vaa'i has been tasked with moving to the blindside flank in a new-look All Blacks pack for Saturday's first test of the year against France 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Porsha Williams is taking a break from dating after finalising her divorce from Simon Guobadia 15:06


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd