Say Hello to SOLT & UKT
Hear from Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, and the Executive Producer for The Olivier Awards and UK Theatre Awards.
By Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre
Julian Bird
Prince Edward Theatre by Prince Edward TheatreSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
Together, SOLT and UKT believe that the British performing arts and theatre sector is not merely treasured, but priceless. As industry leaders, we have used our collective voice to work closely with the UK Government to advocate the importance of theatre to our country; what we will lose if the theatre industry collapses and what we need to stop that from happening.
We have continued to campaign on behalf of the sector to save our theatres. And as always, we endeavour to keep our theatre fans informed and entertained because theatre has power to provide comfort during even the most challenging times.
The Port Wyndham Sir CharlesLIFE Photo Collection
SOLT began in 1908, established by Sir Charles Wyndham under the name, The Society of West End Theatre Managers. This title was updated to the Society of London Theatre in 1994 to reflect the wider representation covered by its membership.
The Garrick: Auditorium (1776) by The George Hoare Theatre CollectionSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
Today, the Society Of London Theatre (SOLT), acts as a not-for-profit organisation which brings together the collective voices of its members who are the movers and shakers of the London theatre industry. Together, we form a community of theatre owners, producers and managers who present shows in the capital’s major commercial and grant-aided theatres.
Rehearsals at the Mercury Theatre by Pamela Raith PhotographySociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
We strengthen and connect the theatre community, both on and off stage and we use our voices to share the incredible work that is being created across the industry as a whole.
No matter your age or background, we encourage audiences far and wide to come and experience the magic of theatre.
How does it feel to watch a show? by Society of London TheatreSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
Julian Bird with an Olivier Award by Society of London TheatreSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
As well as developing our audiences, we are proud to host a number of major industry calendar events including the Olivier Awards. Established in 1976, the awards celebrate the world-class status of London theatre and are Britain’s most prestigious stage honours.
Because we believe that theatre should be enjoyed by everyone, we also run West End Live - a free two-day festival for visitors to enjoy tasters from some of the West End's biggest shows. This year, we hosted it virtually including highlights from the past five years.
The Alhambra TheatreSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
SOLT and UKT support the theatre industry and workforce during times of closure and difficulty. Resources are available such as theatresupport.info for those in need.
The Seagull by Jamie Lloyd CompanySociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
In collaboration with directors and other organisations, we have helped support hundreds of artists in need with new funds to deliver theatre across London. This includes the Theatre Artists Fund, in collaboration with Netflix and Sam Mendes.
Lawn Screen showing Jesus Christ Superstar The Concert (2020-08) by Mark SeniorSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
Because we are driven to support our members and promote theatre to a wider audience, we have been keeping our fans up to date with the latest news via Official London Theatre as well as sharing all the incredible content that has been created from theatre artists. From live-streamed events and brand-new podcasts to weekly broadcasts of theatre shows, we’ve supported the industry’s innovative creations and shared them far and wide with our Virtual Theatre Fix news page.
Witness for the Prosecution - The CourtroomSociety of London Theatre & UK Theatre
UK Theatre offers support to organizations and individuals working in performing arts and the theatre industry at any stage in their career.
UKT also host the UK Theatre Awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of regional and national theatre, providing excellent opportunities to network and celebrate the past year's successes.
