Equity

THREE QUARTERS OF WEST END PERFORMERS AND STAGE MANAGEMENT REPORT INFESTATIONS IN THEIR THEATRES

A comprehensive survey by performers’ union Equity lifts the lid on West End back-stages

Equity has conducted the most authoritative ever survey of working conditions in West End theatres . . . and the findings have shocked even hardened West Enders. Three-quarters of actors and stage managers report regular infestations – which include mice, rats and fleas. One reported: “Our floors have been eaten by mice and they leave their faeces.”

(read more...)

The BBC Strategy Review published yesterday presents a number of concerns for Equity members. Following on from the decision to axe radio drama Silver Street last December Equity members are dismayed that the Asian Network as a whole is now under threat. The closure will be a great loss to Equity’s Asian members and the Asian community and runs contrary to the BBC’s stated position on diversity.

(read more...)

Equity is now gearing up for the General Election with the conference following a nation-wide series of meetings under the banner of the Manifesto for Theatre. Out of the meetings around the country have crystallised six key ideas:

And end to low wages: all funded companies to pay at least industry standard wages.

Increased production: Arts Councils to set minimum levels of in-house production.

Artistic leadership: Artistic and creative personnel to be at the heart of theatre decision-making.

Less bureaucracy: Arts Councils to set maximum levels for proportion of grant spent on administration.

Secure funding: Government arts funding to increase year-on-year at least by inflation.

Local Focus: Local authorities to be given a duty to fund performing arts and every major town to have a funded theatre company.

• Read the latest Manifesto for Theatre newsletter [PDF file]

As part of Equity's ongoing work with models we have produced in partnership with the British Fashion Council and the London Development Agency a series of guides: Healthy Eating; Keeping a "Head"; Manners in Your Handbag; Travel; and Drugs, Alcohol and Cigarette Smoking. To get your free copies please contact Wayne Bebb at Equity on 020 7670 0234 or wbebb@equity.org.uk

Equity is looking for a Membership Records and Admin Assistant to help process membership applications and enquiries and to provide administrative support for the Communications and Membership Support Department.

(read more...)

Arts Council England and the Metro are running their annual Night Less Ordinary scheme. Launched in February 2009 the scheme offers thousands of free theatre tickets to anyone under 26 for all sorts of theatre events including comedy, tragedies, musical theatre, dance, modern mime, plays, circus and much more. There are more than 200 venues participating throughout England and you can search them all from their website. Make sure you don't miss out.

• A Night Less Ordinary

Congratulations to members who were recognised in the 2010 Clowns International Awards: Jolly Jingles, Nangaz and Roly the Clown.

March 8th was International Womens' day and the TUC held a celebration in London which was attended by Equity members and staff. There were inspirational speakers, performances and a hip hop conga in which around 100 people wove their way round the hall in Congress House.

(read more...)

More than seven thousand people, including some of the UK’s best known performers, have signed a petition calling on TV companies to address the imbalance of male and female roles on UK television. Recent research reveals that for every two male roles in a drama there is just one female.. Make sure you join in the protest and sign the online petition here! Click here to go to the petition.

The petition is open to the viewing public to sign. Equity is calling on members to sign the petition and to forward it to your friends and family. If we get even bigger numbers, we can have a real effect.

(read more...)

Zarganar is Burma's most famous comedian. He is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence for criticising the Burmese government's reaction to Cyclone Nargis in 2009. Join the campaign to free Zarganar.

(read more...)

During March the union will be participating in various events around the country so if you are going to be there we hope to meet you.

(read more...)

Equity is positioned to support professional artists but due to our unique place in the entertainment industry we can provide a range of useful information including factsheets on different careers in the performing arts and sources of further information. To get started - have a look at the Industry pages.

• The Industry

The Equity Council has signed off on two new pay deals in theatre which brings minimum weekly rates to £400.

(read more...)

Members wishing to attend the Manifesto for Theatre conference on 22 March, 2010 should contact the union soon. Places are limited to just 250 and will be allocated to ensure a representative spread of members. For more details, click below.

(read more...)

Stage managers who work on Equity contracts which may require them to appear on stage and play a part will retain the right to be self-employed for tax Government authorities have confirmed. This welcome news comes after a series of contacts between Equity and officials from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Equity became concerned after an HMRC review called into question the right of some company stage managers, stage managers, deputy stage managers and assistant stage managers to be treated as self-employed for tax.

(read more...)

Are you interested in shaping the future direction of your union? . . . click the link below to find out how you can.

(read more...)

Equity, the performers’ union, has today attacked the BBC’s plans to cut actors’ pay as “short-sighted ” and “a disgrace”.

Equity General Secretary Christine Payne commented: “Performers are the BBC’s best asset. Viewers do not turn on their televisions to see the likes of BBC Director General Mark Thompson, they want to see Equity members performing in their favourite soaps, dramas and comedies. Yet while Mark Thompson’s salary is safe he is attacking performers who earn many times less than he does.

(read more...)

Equity has produced a series of short films about the union and our campaigns. Have a look at them ...

• Equity films

Unfortunately, due to the recent death of Jack Denman the agency Jack Denman Casting is no longer in business If at any stage you did work through the agency and the following employers do not have your up-to-date details please contact them as soon as possible...

(read more...)

Not only does Equity provide legal support, advice, insurance, help when times are hard, but now we keep you dry in the showers as well!

(read more...)

On January 22nd the BBC announced that it has commissioned a major new piece of research to understand how well the lesbian, gay and bisexual community is portrayed by the broadcaster. You can let them know what you think.

(read more...)

Equity members David Tennant, Honor Blackman, James Smith, Tony Robinson, Clive Anderson, Nicholas Grace and Roger Lloyd Pack joined Equity staff and Officers at a reception in Parliament where they lobbied Ministers, MPs and Peers on the future of the BBC, funding for theatre and Equity's campaign to free Burmese comedian Zarganar.

The reception was held under the banner of the Performers' Alliance which brings together Equity, the Musicians' Union and the Writers' Guild. The picture shows Equity General Secretary Christine Payne with David Tennant and Secretary of State for Culture Ben Bradshaw.

Muscle strain? Lost voice? Stage fright? If you are a member with any performance-related health problem you are entitled to help from the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine. (BAPAM).

(read more...)

Equity research tracking the employment of actors in subsidised repertory theatre in-house productions between 2002 and 2008 reveals that while funding from Arts Councils in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has grown significantly employment for actors on the Equity/TMA sub rep contract has plummeted to lower than where it was at the start of the decade.

(read more...)