The Stage

Equity to the rescue

Published Monday 26 June 2006 at 18:20

For any actors who are not currently Equity members or who have let their subscription lapse, we have a salutary tale.

In April 2005 we were both offered parts in a panto. By June the money was agreed, we had a script and publicity - which included our names and pictures - was produced. We arranged accommodation, paid the deposit and organised childcare.

By early August we still had no written contract, so we phoned the director only to find out that he had been sacked and the panto had been cancelled, leaving it too late for either of us to get another Christmas show and thus substantially poorer.

We then contacted Chris Ryde at Equity’s south-west regional office and he made a claim for compensation on our behalf from the theatre.

Although initially they were unwilling to accept responsibility and agree that compensation was due, eventually they reluctantly offered 10% of the original fees. Thanks to Chris’ expertise and persistence he managed to increase this, albeit in increments of 10% at each stage, to an offer of 50%, so we received £4,500 between us and as members the whole process cost us nothing.

A lot of people moan that Equity subscription rates are too high and so they don’t join the union or let their existing membership lapse by not paying their subs. Strange that someone might be happy to pay over £130 to the AA each year to have peace of mind in case their car breaks down but are reluctant to pay less than £100 a year to have peace of mind about themselves and their work.

Far better to pay your Equity subs before something breaks down. You never know when you’ll need your union.

Fiona Bruce & Owen Aaronovitch

Queen’s Park Road

Brighton