The Stage

Equity elections see 33% increase in candidates

Published Wednesday 5 May 2010 at 12:22 by Matthew Hemley

More than 130 Equity members are standing for council seats in the union’s forthcoming elections, representing a 33% increase in nominations compared with 2008.

The union described the figure as “enormously optimistic” for its future, and also revealed that the average age of candidates standing in the elections - which take place every two years - has “plummeted”.

In total, it said it received 132 nominations for the June elections, when 46 council seats will be contested - up from the last elections in 2008, when 99 members stood.

Compared with 2006, when 81 Equity members stood for a seat on the ruling council, this year’s figure represents an increase of more than 50%.

Equity assistant general secretary for communications and membership support Martin Brown said: “It’s a huge increase and I think it’s enormously optimistic for the future of the union, because what it means is, whether people agree with what’s happening at Equity or disagree with what’s happening at Equity, what they want is a piece of the action. They think that Equity is a significant and powerful enough body for them to spend their time getting involved in it.”

He said that the average age of those standing appears to have fallen, claiming there are a “significant number of very young members wanting to get elected to the council”.

“I think this reflects the agenda general secretary Christine Payne adopted when she was elected of engaging with young performers and drawing them in to the union, and making sure the union is relevant to them,” he added.

Brown was unable to say whether this year’s figure was a record number in the union’s history, but said it was the highest since council was reduced from being more than 60 seats to 46 (plus a president), some years ago. Nominations have now closed and ballot papers will be sent out on June 2. Polls will close on July 14, with results expected by the end of that week. At this year’s elections, West End performer Malcolm Sinclair is standing to become president, and will compete with incumbent Graham Hamilton and variety councillor Dave Eager.