SOS! Save Our Shows!

STREET PERFORMING IN LONDON’S COVENT GARDEN, AS WE KNOW IT, IS UNDER THREAT!!!

During a recent review of the licensing of outdoor entertainment in the Covent Garden area by Westminster City Council the street performers of Covent Garden won a historic victory. As a result of our representations to the council we have gained a voice in the day to day running of Street performing on the West Piazza, the large outdoor area where street performing in London has taken place regularly for 25 years.

The present owners of the market are Capital and Counties, a member of The Liberty International Group, (http://www.liberty-international.co.uk/). During a key meeting in the Westminster Council Chamber they unsuccessfully opposed our involvement in the running of this performance space and have now turned their attention to the other street performance area in Covent Garden known as The North Hall, a covered area that street performers use in all weathers. They aim to impose two things that would drastically effect street artistes of all types who work in the market.

1) A 50% reduction in the total time that we can use the space
2) A reduction in the length of each individual show from 40 mins to 30 mins.

We do not perform to passing trade, we gather an audience, produce a show and collect at the end, THESE TWO MEASURES TOGETHER WILL COST US BETWEEN 25% TO 50% OF OUR TOTAL AVERAGE INCOME, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO EARN A LIVING AND SO STREET PERFORMING IN COVENT GARDEN WILL DIE, AND DIE QUICKLY.

Why do such a thing? WE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THEIR REAL AGENDA IS THE REMOVAL OF STREET PERFORMING IN COVENT GARDEN.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL! The Management of the Market are proposing the same thing for the Covent Garden Classical Musicians area in the South Hall as well. These talented and dedicated artistes face the same fate as ourselves.

If you feel strongly about this please join this group and get a worldwide petition going. WE WANT TO GO VIRAL SO PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN AS WELL. You can take a few moments to sign our online petitions

North Hall petition:
http://www. petitiononline. com/soscovnt/petition. html

South Courtyard petition:
http://www. PetitionOnline. com/cov2008/petition. html

We also urge you to voice your disagreement of this by joining our mass email campaign. Just cut and paste the below sentences and send them to beverley-churchill@capcount.com.


I am writing to express my opposition to the reducing of the street theatre performance times by 50% in The North Hall, and South Hall areas in Covent Garden.

I urge you to reconsider this direct attack on the livelihood of the famous Covent Garden Street Performers and Classical Musicians.

Yours,