Actors for UBI

The world changes all the time, and we will come out of the COVID pandemic into a world that will be so so different too when we went into it. And if this time has proved anything to us, it has shown the gap we have between those who have, and those that do not. 

I am an actor who is based in the South Wales Valleys. An area that is in most cases worse off financially than other areas of the country. I am a result of a system that has survived from a benefits system. I have grown up in a world where if I needed health care, it was there for me, I had education given too me. All paid for by taxation, and more help was available to me if I needed it, such as free school meals, or job seekers allowance, now known as Universal Credit. This is a country that was born on giving people a fighting chance in the world, but I see that slipping away now. 

As an actor I do not work in that industry full time, however much I would love too. But if we had a Universal Basic Income I could work less hours in my “muggle” job and concentrate on being a creative full time, which to me would feel like magic. That’s not too say I am asking for a full wage while I am not acting from UBI, but it would give a me fairer chance at it. And that’s what UBI is about too me, giving everyone a fair crack at what ever they want too do. 

At this present time, during the pandemic I have been very lucky to have had a full time job when the acting industry was unable to offer me work for long periods, although I was lucky enough to perform in two outdoor theatre projects, one being the part I have dreamed about playing for over half my life, and produce an R&D of a script I had written. But this came at a consequence. During the rehearsal periods for these shows, I had to continue working, so this meant, I had to go from rehearsals into night shifts and back to rehearsals. I was physically and mentally exhausted. True also of the other cast members all workign multiple roles or multiple jobs in order to access some form of creativity. 

I had to use holiday days to be able to do these projects, time that is meant to be given too us for relaxation. If I had UBI during these times I could have taken a sabbatical from my job, which I have been told is possible, but I couldn’t do this because I am not finically secure enough. These projects are paid. However I have worked on many productions with others, in the past, where living wage hasn't been met, we won’t get this money until months after the shows, some companies have to work like this, as they won’t get paid from the theatres they performed in for months as well.

Soon we will live in a world where everyone without fail will be working less hours, as technology gets better, we will need less of a work force, but people will still need the same amount of money coming in every month, we need to be proactive and do something about this now. I believe that UBI is the answer to this.