West End actors demand pay rise after theatre producers' 13.5% tax break
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Actors performing in the West End have demanded a pay-rise of up to a tenth more a week after a change in their employment status landed producers with a “National Insurance windfall”.
Equity, the union for actors, has submitted a claim for the pay rise of between eight per cent and 10 per cent – depending on the size of the theatre – to the employers represented by the Society of London Theatre (Solt).
This follows a change to actors’ National Insurance status in April, which gives the producers a tax break of 13.5 per cent. “The actors deserve to share in that,” a spokesman for Equity said.
He pointed out that the West End this year hit its 10th consecutive year of record box office takings, with nearly 15 million tickets sold. West End performers earn between £518 and £633 a week.
Solt has received Equity’s claims but negotiations are yet to start. “It’s very early days,” the Equity spokesman said. “This is unlikely to be resolved in weeks.” When a settlement is reached it will come into force in April next year.
Equity has also demanded that the minimum notice period for a show to be closed in the West End be doubled to four weeks.
This comes after some big-name shows closed on short notice, including X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! and The Full Monty.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments