You Me Bum Bum Train

I went last night. This is comfortably the best thing I have ever done.

I have just signed up as an unpaid volunteer. I offered, I was not forced into unpaid labour! Can't wait to see what it's all about!!

I have to agree with Edgar and Dominique here - sorry Kit but the show doesn't lure people in under any false pretences and nor does it pay some people and not others. Everyone involved, including the directors, come along knowing that they are there for reasons other than money and that they can leave at any time. Which is nice. It is nice to know that people want to do and be a part of something where their motives aren't fiscal. Where people want to do something amazing for someone else - not just themselves. And where people can still feel like they are a part of a community - which is becoming increasingly difficult in London these days. I performed as part of You Me Bum Bum Train a couple of times at the Holborn show in 2011 and my experience was nothing but positive. I loved being a part of something so unique, touching, and utterly bonkers. Every time I went I met a whole load of new, and interesting and genuinely lovely people who all were there for a mass of different reasons. But as I said earlier, refreshingly none of them were money. For me, bum bum train offered me something different to do and to be a part of, something different from my normal day job which, if I'm honest, sucks. What is also nice is that there are no pre-requisites for being involved; you don't have to be a trained actor to perform which means that people like me (who is definitely not a honed performer!) can still do something creative and fun without having to commit to hours of rehearsals and line learning! This is just my two cents and isn't going to change the opinions of those who share Kit's pov. But, what I hope is that these people don't spoil something that is so wonderful and so rare as it stands in this money hungry world. SO, PLEASE DON'T LET THE CYNICS SPOIL THE PARTY!

Having done this a couple of times I don't really see how participation in this project can be deemed 'acting' - it's non-skilled volunteer work performed by a heavily rotating group of (largely) non-actors. I think to suggest it's a 'play' is to completely misunderstand the live art background the Bum Bum Train come from, to turn a blind eye to the fact people enjoy getting involved, and to ignore the fact that it would be financially impossible to stage if everyone got paid (and if you had an all equity cast effectively employed at an enormous expense to stand in the background cheering in a lot of the rooms, what would the point be exactly?). I don't know the full ins and outs, but the fact it does pay several staff is largely due to technical reasons, I believe, as you can't really have a volunteer electrician. If it really bugs equity they should just tell its members not to get involved, but it's ludicrous to suggest it's a proper acting gig. I notice the far more questionable OperaUpClose La Boheme is making a return soon - I think that's a much more legitimate target for this sort of thing (assuming they're still not paying their chorus).

One of the best experiences of my life first as a "passenger" and now as an ongoing volunteer. There is something incredibly unique and special about this project and the people it brings together. I kind of makes you fall back in love with the world in so many ways. I think you just have to come and experience it, as audience or volunteer to really get how wonderful it is.

SOLD OUT

Do your research Kit before you go public. The Barbican would not co-commission anything that wasn't legal and fair. All unpaid positions are done entirely by volunteers. It is a very positive project for anybody looking to get involved.

Kit - Have you have been to this show, as an audience member or volunteer? It always seems to be that the people who have negative criticism about the voluntary nature of the project have not experienced what it is like first hand and have therefore not understood why so many people (over 4000 last year) give up their time to make a life changing experience for ticket holders. For volunteers, the project is a massive force for good. It does not claim to be theatre, and has only been labelled as such by the industry. It is rather a community project. Volunteers come along (With much less demand on them than an unpaid internship - people choose the hours they wish to work and often the nature of their work) and learn valuable skills, gain experience and make friends. Everyone working at You Me Bum Bum Train is there because they want to be - if they didn't - they would leave, as simple as that. When you work with them you are surrounded by people with an incredible volition to make something together that will really touch someone's life. I am a professionally trained actor, and I have been involved in theatre and film which has made a profit where I have not been paid before and have felt cheated. I understand that this is a massive issue that must be addressed in the industry. However You Me Bum Bum train is not a part of this problem. The company does not make any profit from the show. (In fact, it makes a substantial loss.) If they paid everyone who volunteers on minimum wage, it would run at a budget of over 3 million pounds. The ticket price of 20 pounds works out to less than 2% of this. (based on 70 audience members a night for 33 nights) The people who work on the show do it because they believe in the idea and want to make it happen. The directors do not pay themselves - though they do put money that they are accountable for into the welfare of their volunteers and the making of the show. I have always wanted to make theatre which touches people's lives and gives people inspiration to make a positive change in the world. I truly believe that this show does that for audience members as well as volunteers. After being an audience member last year, one man got the courage to come out to his family as gay. Another quit their job in business to take up a career in the arts. Another person was inspired to get a dog! The show gives you a chance to see the possibilities of what your life can be. As for my personal experience of the show - it has given me a set of skills that I would never have learnt before and make me more employable. It has introduced me to amazing people that I am excited to work with on this project and others. It gives me the chance to make people's lives better. Also, it's fun.

Illegally does not pay numerous members of its cast. Do not support this production: http://www.ideastap.com/ideasmag/all-articles/upstaged-you-me-bum-bum-train