As a member of long standing of both Equity and the Society of London Theatre, I write to express my regret at the unhappy situation that now exists between both organisations as a result of the union president’s recent comments about Bill Kenwright.
On the ten productions that Bill Kenwright and I transferred together from the RSC to the West End, starting with The Jacobeans, we never on any occasion paid the West End minimum to an actor. Indeed on The Jacobeans all actors received the same salary, which was not substantial but geared to the whole philosophy of the season. The actors themselves preferred to take all five shows in rather than reduce the scale of what we were trying to do and be more adequately compensated for their services. This meant, of course, that those leading the company worked for considerably less than they would normally. The supporting artists, and there were many of them, were less inconvenienced. It was a choice which resulted in this ensemble company sharing for the first time ever a SOLT Award which hitherto had been given only to an individual. It reawakened the real meaning of the word “ensemble” as we were all truly working together.
I understand that the result of the unfortunate occurrence reported on your front page (May 22) is the breakdown of negotiations regarding the new contract for actors. This means that the people who eventually suffer are, as always, the performers. I would ask for a dignified and generous return to the table, in the best interests of the theatre which we all serve.
Thelma Holt
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