We are pleased to share that Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has agreed to pay its performers, following a campaign led by Equity activists. The company has committed to negotiations with Equity for a union agreement that will lead to fair pay, terms and conditions for the performers they engage and comply with the performers’ employment rights as workers in law. The move follows a campaign led by Equity that called on the Festival to pay its performers properly and a demo was due to be held outside the Festival on its opening night. The rally has now been suspended.
Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming says:
“It is very welcome that the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has engaged so constructively with the union this week. Equity’s primary duty is to ensure that all artists can be assured of good work, on rates and terms reasonable for an engager to pay, so audiences can enjoy good art created by a dignified workforce. Beginning negotiations on an appropriate collective agreement is a good first step, and the union is entering these in good faith. We will update members in due course as to the progress.”
Cambridge Shakespeare Festival says:
“For over 30 years, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has been run as a celebration of Shakespeare’s work - offering open-air performances to audiences in a unique and accessible setting. Throughout that time, we’ve worked closely with hundreds of actors to bring these productions to life, and their talent and commitment have always been at the heart of what we do. As the wider legal and regulatory landscape has evolved, it’s become clear that aspects of our operating model now require urgent review. We are therefore entering into discussions with Equity to ensure the Festival aligns not only with current legal requirements, but also with the highest ethical standards - so that we can continue this long-standing tradition in a way that is fair, supportive of actors, sustainable, and future-facing. We’re pleased to be working collaboratively with Equity in this process, which we intend to lead to a multi-year collective agreement, recognising the union, and enshrining appropriate industry-standard terms and conditions.”
