How to Join
We are pleased to welcome into Equity anyone who is currently working professionally in the field of entertainment. In order to apply you will need to complete an application form, which you can also get from any of our offices listed on the contacts page or by requesting a form via feedback. We also offer Student Membership, Equity Youth Membership and Visiting Artist Membership should these be of relevance to you.
Membership of Equity is available through work in the following areas:
Theatre
- as a paid performer or stage management.
- as a director, designer or choreographer undertaking paid work in the theatre
Opera and Dance
- as a singer engaged by an opera company as a chorister, principal singer or guest artist
- as a dancer employed by a ballet or dance company
Singers
- as a concert, session or pop singer you need to have evidence of one professional, paid engagement
Variety and Circus
- as an artist who usually does short term paid engagements or gigs (clubs, festivals, street, pubs, children's entertainment, cabaret, storytelling etc) you need to have evidence of four of these within the last 12 months, plus one forthcoming engagement
- as a dancer engaged in a cabaret floorshow or troupe either in the UK or overseas
- as an artist working on a long-term engagement such as on a cruise ship, in a theme park, in a circus or a holiday centre etc
Models
- as a catwalk, photographic or other professional model
Television, Films, Commercials and Radio
- as a performer undertaking work in any of these areas on a standard Equity contract
- as a presenter on television or radio
Walk-on artists
- as a walk-on, supporting or background artist, if you can show evidence of at least six days' paid work over a period of 12 consecutive months undertaken on an Equity agreement.
Please note Equity agreements for walk-on, supporting and background artists do not include work on cinema films as these are covered by the FAA, as are independent TV productions filmed within a 40 mile radius of Charing Cross in London. Therefore we unfortunately cannot accept work on these types of productions as a means of joining Equity.
Overseas Experience
- if you have worked professionally overseas and can provide proof of your employment, together with details of membership, if any, of the relevant union in the country or countries concerned you are eligible for membership of Equity.
This applies to UK and EU citizens, or to those from other countries who have been granted permission to work in the UK.
- If you work in a performance area not listed above please contact us as you may be eligible to join.
For information on the costs of joining please see under subscriptions.