Equity

Acting For Others, the charity appeal for the benefit of performers who have fallen on hard times, is in its third year.

Any performers on stage during one week in the Autumn are being encouraged to back the appeal by making a curtain speech or by shaking a collection tin as audiences leave.

Last year the appeal raised over £80,000 . The key to success was the involvement of the players. Where actors made appeals from the curtain, the amount collected from the audience was substantial, where actors did not make an appeal the collection was more modest.

However, for theatres where there are no actors able or willing to make a speech there is a taped appeal by Judi Dench and Ewan McGregor which can be played as the audience leaves their seats.

Money raised last year was used for some very deserving cases. These included a young actor, with a wife and two small children, who lost all four limbs through septicaemia. Several theatrical charities gave support.

An elderly stage-door keeper was rescued from the streets by a theatrical charity and was found housing. An opera singer suffering from cancer of the throat was supported through her treatment .

This year the appeals will take place in the week beginning 17 October in the regions and in the week beginning 24 October in the West End.

The charities which benefit from the appeal are the Actors’ Benevolent Fund, the Actors’