Mice, rats, fleas - infestations in West End theatres are “running out of control”
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.” Another added: “Mice, mice, mice. Quite often there is an unpleasant smell which usually turns out to be a dead one!”. A third commented: “We see and hear mice. They eat through food packaging and even through one of the girl’s warm-up tops”. And perhaps most stomach-churning of all was: “I had tiny bite marks on my lipstick recently when I left the lid off.”
Equity General Secretary Christine Payne commented: “I knew it was bad out there, but I am really shocked by this! These findings mean that tonight, over 600 actors and stage managers will go to work knowing that they will probably see and smell vermin, both living and decomposing, in their work-place.
“I accept that many West End theatres are old and difficult buildings to manage, but this is running out of control. These appalling conditions must come to an end. I want to thank all those West End actors and stage management who took part in this survey. Their union will be working with them to make sure that effective action is taken.”
The survey has been completed by nearly 350 performers and stage managers in 24 different theatres, many of them featuring world-famous shows. The survey was circulated in February Equity to around 850 actors and stage managers.
Apart from infestations, the survey revealed theatres with many of the usual ups and downs of large and complex performance spaces. Some were overcrowded backstage, but most were not. Everybody had proper access to a dressing table and mirror, backstages were mostly clean and tidy and by-and-large the working temperature was not a source of complaint. But the survey has highlighted some clear areas for action. Stage management reported that in only half of theatres there is a clean area for preparing the food and drink that actors have to consume on stage. In addition to the infestations of vermin there are too few greenrooms – 82 per cent of respondents said they did not have one – and far too few cooking facilities. Virginia Wilde, Equity’s West End Organiser, gave more details: “Working in a musical is hard, physical work. Performers need access to hot food – it is their fuel! The problem we have is often very short periods between a late matinee and the evening performance. With two out of three performers not even having access to a microwave there is a danger of them performing without the fuel they need to meet the demands of their job.”
An Equity working party of West End performers and stage managers are now pouring over these findings before recommending urgent action to Equity’s governing Council. The findings have already been sent to the Society of London Theatre, which represents theatre producers and owners.
The following 24 theatres were involved in the survey: Adelphi, Aldwych, Apollo, Apollo Victoria, Cambridge, Criterion, Dominion, Fortune, Garrick, Her Majesty's, London Palladium, Lyceum Theatre, New London, Old Vic, Palace, Phoenix, Piccadilly, Playhouse, Prince Edward’s, Prince of Wales, Queen’s, Savoy, Shaftesbury, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Victoria Palace.
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