Fringe theatre’s pay milestone – 20 years ago in The Stage

This week 20 years ago (August 25, 2005), The Stage reported on a workers’ rights milestone: actors’ union Equity’s first contract specifically for fringe theatre. 

“Equity’s first-ever contract for fringe theatre, launched this week, will require managements to spend half their income on staff salaries, pay the national minimum wage and guarantee a maximum 40-hour week for performers and creative teams,” we wrote.

“The document, which was unveiled at this year’s Edinburgh festival, also insists companies put all their profits towards wages until the minimum rate of £4.85 an hour for adults over 21 is met.

“Some managements were sceptical about the union’s chances of persuading the sector to accept a uniform contract.

“Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Paul Gudgin said: ‘We will look with interest at what Equity is trying to do with the contracts for fringe venues in general. But whenever we have looked at these issues in the past, we have never felt there’s ever been any performers or venues who want to produce a standard contract.”

“John Plews, artistic director of London fringe venue Upstairs at the Gatehouse, who is currently producing a show in Edinburgh, called the contract a good starting point.

“However, he said many elements were impractical and would be impossible to implement.

“ ‘There’s very little chance of anyone being paid the minimum wage because if you’ve got a theatre that holds 50 seats, even if you sell out every night, there is no way you could pay everyone.’”

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