Equity is supporting members in challenging the liquidation of events company Sneaky Experience, which recently shut down despite owing thousands of pounds to performers, businesses and members of the public.
Curious Yellow Events Ltd, operating under the name Sneaky Experience, wrote to creditors last Friday notifying them of an intention to close the company. Andrew Benfield is listed as the sole Director of Curious Yellow Events Ltd, but the performers’ contracts were all signed by Julia Benfield.
The liquidators to be appointed, Dave Clark and Phil Clark, wrote to the more than 300 creditors owed by the Benfields last Friday.
The liquidators have admitted that they are still undertaking work on behalf of Julia Benfield in the collapse of Be Part of It Productions Ltd in 2023, where she was listed as the sole Director. The Sneaky Experience website, which has now been removed, referred to the Sneaky Experience company as part of Be Part of It Productions Ltd.
The creditors include:
- A number of Equity members owed between £200 to £7000.
- A further 255 consumer creditors are owed between £15 to £500.
- HMRC is listed in the paperwork as owed nearly £104,000.
Equity has submitted legal claims on behalf of members still owed money but this will be difficult if a liquidation proceeds.
Between November 23 and December 22, 2024, Sneaky Experience presented Christmas-Shire at Kings Dock in Liverpool, on the ACC’s grounds, promising visitors "an enchanted encounter with Father Christmas and his elves".
A concurrent production took place at Eltham Palace in Greenwich, Greater London, under the name The Spirit of Christmas.
Complaints lodged with Action Fraud
Both Julia and Andrew Benfield have been involved in the defunct companies: Sneaky Experience Ltd (Dissolved in 2015), Sneaky Experience Limited (Dissolved in 2019), Be Part Of It Productions Ltd (Liquidated in 2023) and now Curious Yellow Events Ltd.
Equity members have set out their objections to the appointment of the liquidators in light of their previous work for the Benfields and have lodged complaints with the police, Action Fraud and the Insolvency Service.
Creditors have until 24 March 2025 to lodge their objections to the proposed liquidators.
Dominic Bascombe, Equity Regional Official for North East, Yorkshire and Humberside says:
"There has been an absolute outpouring of anger over the actions of this company and the way that the owners have left so many people out of pocket. Equity has held meetings with many of those affected and the hurt and upset is deeply felt.
"Those behind Sneaky Experience should not be able to walk away from this situation and leave so many devastated. There needs to be accountability by the company owners.
"The company owners set out in the liquidation paperwork that creditors refused payment plans, however many have told us that they agreed to such plans.
"The company owners also told creditors that they were due an insurance payout as a result of event cancellations, yet none of that money made its way to the performers.
"The slap in the face for many of those still owed thousands, is that the company owners are also listed as creditors seeking payments as employees of the company that they are closing.
"Equity is supporting members in calling for an investigation into Sneaky Experience before it is shut down and the owners walk away. There continues to be a total disregard for workers in this sector who are treated as disposable and at the bottom of the pile when businesses shut.”
