Two of Equity’s most passionate and tireless activists – Natalie Amber and Chris Clarkson - have been awarded Honorary Life Memberships for their longstanding service to the union.
Chair of the Deaf and Disabled Members’ Committee Natalie and Greater Manchester Branch Secretary Chris were both presented with the HLM certificates by Equity President Lynda Rooke on Sunday 11 May at Derry Guildhall during Equity’s recent conference in Derry.
Natalie Amber
Since joining Equity in 2000, performer Natalie Amber has taken an instrumental role in representing the professional, health-related and well-being interests of Equity’s deaf, disabled and neuro-divergent membership.
She consistently challenges and holds to account any theatre or producer who refuses to portray characters with a disability in an authentic manner, and also those who devise work with no form of disability representation whatsoever.
As Chair of the Deaf and Disabled Members’ Committee for two terms, she has ensured that the committee is an effective means to develop the union’s support and services for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent members. She has helped to facilitate Equity’s guidance for the industry including - but not limited to - casting and working with artists with autism and good practice when casting deaf, disabled or neurodiverse dancers.
Natalie is known by many for playing the character of Shelly Rossington on Coronation Street, the friend on the Cobbles to Paul Foreman, whose storyline saw him dealing with Motor Neurone Disease.
Awarding Natalie the Honorary Life Membership, President Lynda Rooke said: “Natalie has displayed boundless energy and commitment to Equity. She has played a key role in helping to build a modern, fighting union. For longstanding meritorious service to Equity, I am proud and deeply honoured to award Honorary Life Membership to Natalie Amber.”
Chris Clarkson
Chris Clarkson, who joined the union in 2002, is absolutely tireless in his role as Greater Manchester Branch Secretary – somehow running their meetings, social media and helping out other branches, networks and staff. This has helped make the Manchester branch one of the union’s most successful - with the highest regular attendance.
This is all while Chris continues to do his professional work, including touring in Blood Brothers, performing in more than 20 pantomimes, street theatre, voice overs, compering of corporate events and more.
Chris is also part of Equity for a Green New Deal and juggles Variety Officer duties with those of Secretary.
Awarding Chris the Honorary Life Membership, President Lynda Rooke said: “Chris is never very keen to take individual credit for anything he does for the branch. However much work he puts in, he will always reject personal praise saying ‘we’ did it, ‘it’s the whole committee’, ‘it’s not just me’. But I’m told the reality is, that it’s nearly always him.
“For longstanding meritorious service as Manchester Branch Secretary and according to reports, the centrifugal force of the Manchester Branch, it is my absolute pleasure and privilege to award Chris Clarkson with Honorary Life Membership.”
