Shedload Theatre Shedload, Shedloads, Matthew Barnes fraud, tax evasion, non-payment of bills, harassment, ignoring invoices, tax fraud Cambridge Internet

Shedload Theatre has been running for little over a year now. In that time they have taken in profits far above their expenditure, putting on cheap shows for over-the-top prices at the expense of the consumer. They have not deigned to declare these profits to the government or to pay tax, nor have they set themselves up as a company in an official manner - not even as a charity. 

I was hired as a graphic designer for the company, taking charge of their brand and the design of their promotional materials, but also being roped in to act as the professional member in all meetings and interviews with potential theatres, as the other members were incapable of acting in a professional manner (as became explicitly obvious later). In that time I saw no payment for my work, yet saw many others paid, cash-in-hand for their contributions to the company (illustrators and other creatives) and paid much less than they deserved. 

During this period I had fallen ill, and was not able to be constantly contacted (as their manager was wont to do) and he would often use my illness as an excuse to send my work to others to complete after half an hour of me not returning Facebook or text messages - despite my making it clear that I should only be contacted professionally by email.

Eventually it was too much. I left the company, invoicing them for the work I had done in three installments (as a favour to them). They ignored all communications and left my emails unanswered as the late charges on their invoices mounted. They then, in an effort to buy me off, put "my share" of the company in my account, which was far less than even one of the invoices, and stated that I had "volunteered" for them and that the "matter" was now "closed". They then stated "We believe the payment is a fair one. It is tendered in full and final settlement of your claim. If you are unwilling to accept it on this basis please return the money to us within 14 days." despite not giving me any means to return the money.

In the meantime they have used the company money to send themselves to expensive theatre festivals for fun, and using it for their own personal gains (dinners, purchases, etc) writing them off as "business expenses", yet they cannot find the means to pay for the services provided for them. 

They are masters of making excuses and stalling, yet too ignorant to realise the legal bind they have put themselves in. They openly criticise and badmouth their audience (through use of feedback cards they take in at the end of each show) and short change them by putting on cheap shows. They are rude and unprofessional, and do not show any gratitude for those that have put them where they are (i.e. the creatives that have driven their company forward with good work). Not only are they unethical in their ignorance and harassment of their associates but they are also breaking the law with fraud and tax evasion.

Though I may never see the money that is owed me, I want to see that they don't get away with their illegal activity and they aren't able to take advantage of other creatives in my industry.