It’s time for theatre bosses to pay up
Theatre workers deserve a life beyond the stage. Yet the spiralling cost of living, gruelling work schedules and inadequate tour accommodation mean many are facing burnout and struggling to make ends meet.
As we go into negotiations with employers on three major theatre agreements this year, Equity members are telling us that meaningful improvements to pay, digs, working conditions and securing a healthy work life balance are their top priorities.
It’s time for theatre bosses to pay up.
To get the best deal for all workers, we need as many Equity members engaged with the issues as possible. This is an important time to engage with your union. Please check your details are up to date or if you’re not a member yet, join now.
Theatre agreement negotiations 2026
Equity is negotiating on three major theatre agreements which together form the basis for the pay and working conditions of thousands of performers and stage management each year. They are:
- West End Theatre Agreement
- Commercial Theatre Agreement
- Subsidised Theatre Agreement
These collective agreements are negotiated between Equity and employer groups SOLT (Society of London Theatre, for the West End) and UK Theatre (for Commercial and Subsidised). The agreements establish minimum rates of pay and set out terms and conditions such as holiday entitlement, working hours and living allowances.
What is Equity calling for?
Equity members want to see improvements in pay and working conditions.
- Pay: We know the cost of living remains a priority concern, which is why we’re seeking significant and meaningful pay increases.
- Hours: The gruelling rehearsal and performance schedules – six days a week and eight or more shows a week – has a huge impact on wellbeing, and members want that to be addressed. We want the agreements to provide better work-life balance through shorter working weeks in the rehearsal period and improved holiday provision.
- Digs: Poor quality and unaffordable accommodation for those on tour or relocating for work remains a major concern. Expensive and often sub-standard accommodation contributes to poor health and wellbeing, and it must be improved.
There are specific demands and details in each of the claims relating to each agreement.
Who do these agreements cover?
The agreements underpin the contracts issued to performers and stage management on the West End and in Commercial and Subsidised Theatre. Like all Equity Agreements, these terms and conditions establish floors through which no worker can fall – not ceilings through which no worker can rise. Producers can pay more, but the rates show the minimum amounts that workers can rely on.
What’s the timeline?
These agreements were last negotiated in 2023 and expire in April 2026. From January 2026, Equity’s negotiating teams will meet regularly with employer groups to negotiate changes to the agreements. In these negotiations, members are represented by fellow performers and stage managers, alongside Equity officials, who use their experience of work on these agreements to advocate for the improvements that members told us they want Equity to win.
Members who have worked on the agreements since they were last renegotiated will be kept informed throughout and will be balloted on the final offers to decide whether they are acceptable or not. If you’re not a member of Equity yet, join now to ensure you have your say.
How the claims were created
In 2025, all Equity members who have worked on the West End, Commercial or Subsidised Theatre Agreement as a performer or member of the stage management team in the past three years were surveyed for their views to input to our claims. The results from those surveys were analysed by Equity officials. The officials then created the claim alongside working parties of Equity deps and activists who have recent experience of working on these agreements. The claims were ratified by Stage Actors Committee and Stage Management Committee. For the West End Agreement, the West End Deputies Committee also have responsibility to ratify the claim.
Creative team agreements
Equity also holds collective agreements with SOLT and UK Theatre for directors, designers and choreographers. These are negotiated separately to the agreements for performers and stage management.
Later in 2026, Equity will begin consulting with director and choreographer members who have worked on either the SOLT or UK Theatre agreements prior to submitting claims for improvements to those terms and conditions.
Equity’s designer members who have worked on the West End were recently contacted with an update about the Equity/SOLT Agreement. Further information will follow very soon for both the West End and beyond.
Question? Contact us
If you have any questions please reach out to the Live Performance Industrial Official responsible for the relevant Agreement:
- West End Performers and Stage Management: Hannah Plant on hplant@equity.org.uk
- Directors, Designers, and Commercial & Subsidised Theatre Performers & Stage Management: Charlotte Bence on cbence@equity.org.uk
- Choreographers: Lottie Stables on lstables@equity.org.uk
