Landis is wrong about generous Bill

Published Monday 16 June 2008 at 14:30

I find it both unfair but also predictably opportunistic of Harry Landis to attack producer Bill Kenwright over actors’ pay (Equity targets Kenwright as ‘worst payer’, page 1, May 22).

Some years ago I was touring in one of Mr Kenwright’s productions. It was while I was in Glasgow that the company was duly informed that the following weeks performances in Leicester at the De Montfort Hall had been cancelled thanks to the local council’s failure to be able to safely test in time the emergency facilities of the newly-opened establishment.

Despite having to refund one week’s ticket money back to the public from the sold out venue, Kenwright also paid the entire company their full salary and expenses, despite the fact there was no policy in place that would have automatically made it compulsory for the producer to do so.

The musicians had no need to worry because their union already had such as policy in place and so Kenwright was legally obliged to pay them. But despite having the legal option of not having to pay us a penny, within ten minutes of being informed by the company manager of the position, Kenwright faxed the theatre to inform us that he would indeed pay us in full. This he did and the actors enjoyed a fully paid week off work.

It’s simply wrong that Bill Kenwright should be attacked by Equity when if it wasn’t for him, Shaftesbury Avenue would be dark most of the year.

Lincoln Hudson

Palatial Palette Court

Las Vegas, Nevada

USA