Why theatre directors and designers should join Equity

As a stage director or designer, Equity can offer you everything from advice and support, to legal representation, to the chance to improve the theatre industry for all. Find out about everything Equity offers you as a theatre director and designer below.

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Advice, support and representation

Nobody knows the agreements you’re working on like the organisation that negotiates them.

When you’re working on the West End, for a subsidised theatre or a commercial producer your contract is underpinned by a collective agreement negotiated between Equity and the Society of London Theatre, or Equity and UK Theatre.

You can find minimum rates for stage directors, set and costume designers, lighting designers and choreographers in the rates section of our website.

When you have questions about what these agreements mean and how they protect you and your work, Equity is your best source of advice and support. As a member of Equity, you can influence those agreements and be part of our work to drive improvements to your terms and conditions at work.

Being a designer in this industry can be incredibly lonely, you can often feel you are constantly battling on your own for fair pay and good working conditions. Equity backs YOU, yes YOU - a designer! Collectively we are stronger, working on better fees for us all. The more we are, the stronger we are.

When you’re not working on a union agreement you can access sample contracts to support you in negotiations plus our specialist advice on your statutory rights, industry best practice and standards.

Our Directors and Designers Committee have also brought together advice specifically for you – from navigating directing and designing while pregnant to job descriptions for Set Designers, Costume Designers, stage directors and lighting designers to support you in negotiations over contracts.

Improving standards for all directors and designers

Membership of Equity means that you can influence our lobbying and campaigning activity to drive up standards for stage directors, designers - and for all theatre workers.

Whether that’s as part of Equity’s Directors and Designers Committee, local Equity branch, a specialist network, or by participating in the regular consultations we run over our industrial and campaigning work – your Equity membership is your voice in your union.

Lack of PAYE opportunities and the isolated nature of freelance practice has cost us as designers over recent decades. Moving forward we must build a united professional voice to challenge appalling rates of pay, diminished investment in the design process and lack of career sustainability for designers. With your engagement, I believe Equity can provide the platform for that work.

We are here for you when things go wrong

Our team of experienced and skilled staff all over the UK are on hand to step in where needed in disputes with your engagers, and to guide you – or your agent – when you need it. If needed, we also provide cradle-to-grave legal support through our relationship with trade union solicitors Pattinson & Brewer.

We are one of the only trade unions in the UK that provides specialist tax and social security advice. Whether it’s navigating universal credit, Access to Work or your tax return as a freelancer, our dedicated team are on hand to provide advice and representation – right up to tribunal level – on a range of social security and tax issues.

Find out about joining Equity

Zoe Spurr, theatrical lighting designer

"Life as a freelance theatrical lighting designer can often feel lonely, particularly in the early career days. However being an Equity member opens a theatre family and network to you, providing important advice and being your protection if needed.

All members unite to create this union, supporting each other whilst also learning about the many aspects of performing arts that Equity represents. Equity itself is constantly immersing staff members into the various disciplines to learn more about this special industry."

A proud trade union

Trade union membership isn’t just about you – it’s about supporting a movement that fights for a better deal for working people in our own industry, across the economy and around the world.

We are proudly affiliated to the TUC and so can access the solidarity and influence of our sister trade unions. We've won support from unions for campaigns over arts funding, housing rights, representation in our workplaces and support for self-employed people in the pandemic and more.

Working with our sister unions around the world and through our affiliation to Amnesty International, Justice for Colombia and other solidarity groups, Equity has fought for artists in South Africa, in Israel and Palestine, Belarus, Chile, Ukraine, Myanmar – all over the world. Your membership of Equity makes this work possible.

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