Equity announces new agreement for commercial theatre

We have recently concluded negotiations for a new agreement in commercial theatre which will see significant improvements to members pay, as well as their terms and conditions.

Members who have worked on the agreement since it was last negotiated in 2019 were balloted on whether to accept or reject these new terms and conditions, and with 85% of members voting to accept we can now confirm the improvements detailed below on this page.

Equity General Secretary, Paul W Fleming, said:

"In a tough time for commercial touring theatre we have delivered on members’ key priorities. We’ve pushed producers to take responsibility for accommodation in Dublin for years – and we’ve now delivered that from this October. Work on addressing the problems with the digs system will continue so members do not have to wait until we renegotiate this agreement to see further improvements.

"The increases to minimum rates of pay, to allowances and additional payments alongside our joint work with UK Theatre on a five day working week in the rehearsal period are testament to the hard work of members from our Stage Committee, Stage Management Committee and  Commercial Tour Deps Network, who worked alongside staff in these negotiations."

Robert Noble, Chair of UK Theatre's Commercial Theatre Negotiating Party, said: 

"Given the current economic difficulties facing both UK Theatre and Equity members, these negotiations were always going to be difficult and challenging, and consequently it is particularly pleasing to note that the constructive dialogue and professionalism displayed by all parties in the negotiation process resulted in a settlement that was strongly supported by members of both organisations."

A Q&A can be found at the bottom of this page for members on current Commercial Theatre contracts to explain what these changes mean for you – if you still have questions please email Equity’s Industrial Official for Theatre, Charlotte Bence – cbence@equity.org.uk

Pay

Minimum rates will rise by 5% in year one, and then above inflation. This will have the following immediate impact on minimum rates under the agreement, and combined with the 4.4% rise to minimums delivered in summer last year delivers more than 9% in pay rises under this agreement since June 2022.

Accommodation and allowances

The commercial managers have agreed to undertake joint work with Equity to address the problems our members experience with the digs system. For the first time:

• Equity will develop a code of conduct for minimum standards on digs
• Venues will require digs providers to adhere to our minimum standards
• Producers and engagers will take on more responsibility for the vetting of digs providers and supporting members in the event of issues
• A new complaints procedure will be introduced so that hosts who do not offer accommodation of a standard that meets our code of conduct or behave in inappropriate ways will be removed from the venue digs list

We are now seeking your views on what this code of conduct for digs providers should include. Please complete this short survey to share your views.

On Tier A* tours, all touring and subsistence payments will now be paid four weeks in advance. On Tier A-C tours, allowances will be paid 2 weeks in advance.

From October 2023, all producers taking tours to Dublin will be responsible for sourcing and providing accommodation for the workforce.

Touring allowances and subsistence rates will rise by 16.6% overall, and 10% in the first year.

Responsibility Payments

When we consulted you on changes to the agreement you told us that swings and understudies deserved much higher payments for the work they do. We made the case for this in negotiations and we have delivered significant increases to both responsibility and performance payments.

Additionally, we know that members of the stage management team who act up to cover the duties of a more senior colleague also deserve better recognition and payment for carrying out that safety-critical work, and so we have also delivered a new structure that guarantees additional payment for your safety critical work.

Work/Life balance

We have secured a working party between SOLT/UK Theatre and Equity to trial a five day working week in the rehearsal period across the west end, in commercial theatre and in the subsidised sector.. Again, both Equity’s General Secretary and the SOLT/UK CEOs will be involved in this work.

Crucially, a five day working week does not mean that the usual weekly rate of pay will decrease.   

Additionally, achieving all of these improvements has not come at the cost of sacrificing any other terms. We have not had to sacrifice anything in one area to make gains in another.