The Stage

Smoking ban challenge is ‘unrealistic’, says Equity

Published Tuesday 20 May 2008 at 15:10 by Lalayn Baluch

Equity ARC: Variety artists have failed to convince Equity that it should lobby government to change the smoking ban, which they believe is having a “catastrophic” effect on the light entertainment sector.

Performers have warned that the legislation, which came into force last June, is causing pubs and clubs - one of light entertainment’s biggest employers - to close at an alarming rate. This has had a knock-on effect for artists, and they claim that work opportunities have fallen by as much as 50%.

Speaking at Equity’s Annual Representative Conference, northern area councillor Yvonne Joseph said that the smoking ban had lead to a “disastrous loss of work” and urged the union to take an “immediate step to challenge the job losses”.

However, according to vice-president Jean Rogers, attempting to change the legislation would be a waste of staff resources.

She explained: “The general consensus is that the ban is here to stay, and to tie council to that course of action is unrealistic. We need to brainstorm and look at it, because there are lots of factors that are making clubs close down. Council wants the union’s approach to be more creative and have a really tip-top plan.”

The issue was debated at the conference, where it was overwhelmingly rejected by attending representatives.

Instead, Equity has vowed to “enter into discussion” with the government to voice concern at the closure of pubs and clubs. It has also promised to urgently undertake research among the sector to quantify and assess the impact of the legislation on work opportunities for variety members.

Meanwhile, the trade body has also given backing to a plea by light entertainers, to lobby all television channels and theatres “through all means available” to promote, encourage and schedule more programmes containing variety performers.

Birmingham Variety Branch member Etienne said that the smoking ban had “crucified” the light entertainment industry, and that the disappearance of work opportunities was threatening the future of many Equity variety performers.

He added: “The only choice we have left to us is to raise the profile and campaign to every television channel and theatre. Why not put at least one variety show in every single town, in a theatre? It can be done, and I know that people will go and see it. We need to save the livelihood of variety members.”