A worthy wage

Published Monday 30 April 2007 at 11:25

I was interested to read Mark Shenton’s article on Equity’s fight to raise the minimum rates for actors salaries and while I felt he balanced the argument well, I must add my comments to one or two points he made.

The West End is regarded by many to be the pinnacle of achievement for an actor and yet the minimum wage for a West End performer of £366.82 is only £47.82 more than the minimum wage for subsidised repertory theatre, and £66.82 more than the commercial theatre minimum of £300.

A West End performer on the minimum wage would be earning just over £19,000 per year (if the show were to last a year). Not bad money, you may argue, for a young performer recently graduated and appearing in a hit show. However, minimum wages don’t only apply to the young performers - they are often applied across the board to ensemble and supporting roles irrespective of age and experience.

Mr Shenton correctly states that “smart producers often pay above the minimums” but with the minimums being so low, even if they are paying £100 above, it still amounts to only £24,000 a year.

It should also be noted that while that doesn’t sound too bad, auditions for West End shows are rarely gained without the help of an agent, which in turn means that the artist has to pay an average of 10% plus VAT in commission to that agent. Add to that national insurance and income tax and you are left with about £250 a week, and that is for working at the very pinnacle of the theatre world.

Mark Shenton also adds that “many of those employed on the minimum level will also be understudies, earning an additional fee” and then there are swings who “earn another bonus” and of course lets not forget “push and pull money” for when an actor is required to move scenery. All true, but take a look at the minimum payments for those things and we see that to understudy a lead role in the West End would attract a payment of £31.78 per week and £29.36 per performance and a non leading role £23.84 per week and £17.60 per performance. A swing, who is expected to cover up to six people, would earn an additional £54.18 per week.

Push and pull is always a contentious issue and the pay rates are often in single figures. Not exactly enough to buy a yacht and retire to the Bahamas.

Finally, while it is true that “no one asks them to make the sacrifices to work on stage” and, as we are so often told, we “do a job that we love” that doesn’t mean we should not be paid a wage which reflects the level of achievement and experience.

I am sure there are many of the other key workers which he mentions who also enjoy their chosen profession, but would like to be able to have a higher standard of living.

I wish Equity well with its fight to secure higher minimum wages, but I am sure it is in for a fight. It is only as strong as its members, and, as long as there are people prepared to work for lower wages, the management will continue to pay them.

Even if they were to have the full backing of their members, without a closed shop there will always be others waiting for their chance to appear in the West End.

Steve Fortune

Abbey Wood

London, SE2