Actors · writers · directors
Pay what you can.
Just need a space to experiment and discover? Our Pay What You Can membership gives actors, writers and directors massively reduced rates on our studios — for training, practice and developing unfunded work. Talk to us about your needs and financial situation, and we can usually work something out.
Join the membership
Membership unlocks the Pay What You Can booking form: book any available slot in our studios at a price you can afford (minimum rates apply in some spaces). Built for unfunded work.
Heads up: PWYC bookings are provisional — see the rules below for how that works.
Book at the full rate
If your dates can't move, book at the standard rate on our hire page — full-price bookings are confirmed instantly and can't be displaced. No membership needed.
Three steps.
Join
£30 buys a three-month membership block — sign up here ↗. (We run this through Circle for now.)
Book
Log in ↗ and book any available slot through the members' booking form, at the price you choose — minimum rates apply in some spaces.
Rehearse
Turn up and make the work. Your booking stays provisional until it's inside its protection window — the rules below explain exactly how.
Spaces in the scheme: AE Theatre (Dalston) · The Playroom (Haggerston) · The Playhouse (Haggerston) · Studio Tardieu (Haggerston)
PWYC bookings are provisional.
Subsidised slots are what keep the scheme alive, so every Pay What You Can booking is held "on hold" in case a full-price booking lands on the same slot. Here's exactly what happens, per venue:
Movable until the day before
A full-price booking can displace your slot at any time up until the day before your rehearsal. We will never cancel on the day itself, under any circumstances.
48-hour protection
Once you're within 48 hours of your booking, your slot is fully protected and cannot be cancelled. Clashes only matter more than 48 hours out.
You get three options
- Move — shift to another available slot.
- Match — pay the full rate and lock your slot in.
- Refund — full refund, no questions asked.
Full terms & conditions.
1. Overview
The Pay What You Can (PWYC) scheme is designed to make rehearsal space accessible and affordable for our community. Membership runs for three (3) months and provides access to book available rehearsal studios across our venues at a price members can afford.
Spaces included in the scheme: Actors East Theatre (Dalston), The Playroom (Haggerston), The Playhouse (Haggerston), Studio Tardieu (Haggerston).
2. Pricing
PWYC members may book studio space at a rate they choose, subject to minimum rates which apply in certain spaces. Pricing is always under review and may be updated by Playhouse East to ensure the scheme remains sustainable. Current pricing information is available on the booking system at the time of reservation.
3. Booking process
How to book: members book any available slot through our online booking system at their chosen rate (respecting minimum rates in place at the time of booking).
Priority of bookings: all PWYC bookings are provisional until confirmed. If a full-price booking conflicts with your slot, the following rules apply:
- Actors East Theatre & The Playroom: PWYC bookings may be displaced by full-price bookings at any time up until the day before your rehearsal. We will not cancel on the same day of your booking under any circumstances.
- The Playhouse & Studio Tardieu — 48-hour protection: once you are within 48 hours of your booking, your slot is fully protected and cannot be cancelled. If a clash occurs more than 48 hours before your rehearsal, you will be offered three options: move your booking to another available slot, match the full hire rate to secure your slot, or receive a full refund — no questions asked.
4. Cancellations & refunds
- 7+ days' notice: a credit will be issued to your account for future bookings.
- Within 24 hours: no refunds will be issued.
- No-shows: if a member does not attend their booking, they will be charged the full hire rate for that space — even if the booking was made at a lower PWYC rate.
5. Usage policies
- Personal use only: bookings cannot be transferred or given away. The named member must be present.
- Booking limits: a maximum of three (3) consecutive days may be booked per member. Longer runs require prior approval — please email contact@actorseast.com.