In a unique coming together of US and UK charities Behind the Scenes and Light Relief, on April 24 this year designers on both sides of the Atlantic will be donating their royalties to help their colleagues in need.
A regular event in the UK, Light Relief Day was started by Rick Fisher in memory of the charity’s co-founder, Tony Gottelier. Now Fisher and other leading designers Ken Billington and Ken Posner, all of whom have shows currently running on both Broadway and in the West End, have taken the bold step to make this an international event.
If you’re involved with a show, whether it’s in London, New York, in your hometown, or on the road, you can join them in helping to make April 24 the day our industry comes together to celebrate its successes and to give back in thanks. By donating your royalties for just one day, you will be supporting these two organizations that provide financial assistance to industry members who are seriously ill or injured, or to their surviving family.
Even if you don’t get a royalty, you can still join in the celebrations! Be creative—take up a collection backstage, raffle tickets to the show, sell autographed programs. Add your name and that of your show to the list of those who have stepped up to care for their own in times of need.
Light Relief was formed specifically to help British theatre lighting designers and those working in the field who are not in regular full time employment by providing either practical support or financial assistance. Emulating their model of a charity established by and for the industry, The ESTA Foundation created Behind the Scenes which serves entertainment technology professionals residing in the U.S. and Canada working in any discipline either directly backstage or behind the camera, or for the companies supplying products and services to the industry.