Welcome

Equity has a vital network of branches throughout the UK which give members a voice in the union and much more. Branches hold regular meetings in their local area and all members and student members are invited to attend these to share views and experiences, discuss issues that are of importance to them and put proposals to Equity's ruling body - the Equity Council. Branches also organise a programme of social events and raise money for local charities.

If you are an Equity member or student member based in the area you are able to join the branch (no charge) so please get in touch with the Branch Secretary. If you are a member or student member visiting the area you are very welcome to drop into the next branch meeting and get to know some of your fellow members.

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Hello and welcome to the Equity Central England General Branch website.

Like all the Equity branches in the UK, the Central England branch is run by a committee of nine Equity professional performers and creatives who were elected by their fellow branch members. They are not employed by Equity, but give up a few hours a month to help give Equity members based in the Midlands a voice in the union, and to help organise campaigns and regional events.

The Central England General Branch attracts members from a big area, so why not bring a fellow member and car share. We are a proactive group with members from a wide range of performance backgrounds and all levels of experience.

The meeting often has a guest speaker or an element of professional development and is often a place to network and receive information about jobs paying the appropriate Equity rate. If you have not been to a meeting for a long time why not come and bring another member too?

New and student members are always very welcome.

We meet about nine times a year usually on the second Monday of the month at 8pm in:

Upstairs Function Room
The Old Joint Stock Public House
4 Temple Row West
Birmingham
B2 5NY

The Old Joint Stock is opposite Birmingham Cathedral in the centre of the city. There is lots of free on-street parking after 7pm and it is only a short walk from New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill train stations.

Future meeting dates for 2009 are:

Monday 14th September
Monday 12th October
Monday 9th November

If you would like to know more about this Branch please ring the Branch Secretary.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of Equity members come to your Equity branch meetings?

Membership of our branch open to actors, stage managers, theatre directors, theatre designers, opera singers, classical and contemporary dancers, models, choreographers and many other Equity members who work in the entertainment industry, and have a permanent base in the Midlands region. At the moment the majority of Equity members who turn out for our meetings are professional actors, but there may also be a few theatre directors, stage managers, dancers, models, singers and theatre designers in attendance. Whatever area of this industry you specialise in we always endeavour to make everyone welcome.

What area of the UK does the Central England General Branch cover?

Our Branch covers the whole of the Midlands including Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, the Black Country, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

How do I make sure that I know when meetings are happening?

The best way to know about our forthcoming meetings is to go on the mailing list. That way you will receive the monthly newsletter, minutes of meetings and other Midlands Equity news and information.

How do I go on the mailing list?

All you have to do to go on the mailing list is e-mail the Equity Central England General Branch Secretary. In your e-mail state that you would like to go on the Central England General Branch mailing list and that you'll be happy to receive the regular newsletter and other branch information. Also state your Equity name, Equity number, and Midlands address. That way the Branch Secretary can verify your Equity membership with head office, then add you to the branch e-mail mailing list.

I've been an Equity member living in the Midlands for several years now, so how come I am not automatically receiving information about the Central England General Branch?

Even though you are an Equity member you have to opt in for membership of a branch. Also there are three Variety branches in the Midlands as well as our General Branch. So it is best for Equity members themselves to choose if they would like to be a member of a branch and then decide which branch would best suit them.

What sort of guest speakers could I expect to see at branch meetings?

Over the last few years our guest speakers have included: actor and television director Christopher Timothy; Gwenda Hughes, Artistic Director of the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme; Andrew Breakwell, Artistic Director Nottingham Playhouse Education Company; Hamish Glen, Artistic Director of the Belgrade Theatre Coventry; Janice Connolly, Artistic Director of Women and Theatre; Adrian Jackson, Artistic Director of the Garrick Theatre Lichfield; Hannah Miller, Casting Director at the Birmingham Rep; Trevor West, BBC Birmingham Drama Production Executive; Peter Leslie Wild, Head of BBC Radio Drama, Birmingham; Lee Thomas, Screen West Midlands Head of Production and Development; plus our Equity President, and several other members of Equity staff.

We are continuing to provide a high calibre of guest speakers; however the committee appreciates input from all Central England Branch members, so suggestions for future guest speakers are always welcome.

I would have to travel quite a long way to come to your branch, so how long do meetings last?

Our meetings start at 8pm and we endeavour to finish by 9.30pm, though sometimes we've had a particularly sparkling guest speaker and lots of questions from the floor, or an interesting and lively debate which has overrun a little. However our meetings have never finished later than 9.50 pm so far. Many of us who don't have to travel so far enjoy a drink and chat after our meetings in the beautiful Grade 2 listed bar of the Old Joint Stock.

Apart from the branch meetings, what else does being a member of the Central England General Branch offer?

We hope that our branch meetings provide an opportunity to find out about Equity work and production companies based in the Midlands region. We also hope that coming along to our regular meetings provides networking opportunities and friendship. Several of our members have formed companies from meeting through the branch. Some members have gained paid work because of job information circulated by the branch or from information they have gained from their new Equity friends.

The branch has also been active in campaigns which have led to the arrival of the first purpose-built pub theatre in Birmingham, ongoing professional training workshops being provided by the Northern Actors Centre in our region and helping to keep BBC television drama production in Birmingham.

Most recently the branch ran a pilot playreading group and we are hoping to continue with this group in the autumn, subject to funding. We also endeavour to circulate information about other creative networking opportunities in our region.

What is the history of your branch?

Our Branch was founded in 2003 when 30 members of Equity met in a Birmingham pub and nine Equity members volunteered to be the founding committee. Since then our branch has gone from strength to strength and now has over 300 members.

There have been several changes of committee members and meeting venue over the years and most recently a change of name. Originally we were the Birmingham General Branch but as our Branch membership is drawn from the whole of the Midlands we felt we needed a new name to truly reflect the region we represent.

If there's anything more you want to know about the Central England General Branch please don't hesitate to contact the Branch Secretary Tracey Briggs or our Public Relations Officer and Vice Chair Simon Clancy. You can find their contact details on the contacts page of this website.

Website last updated 6 April 2010