Musicians ready to strike over 'virtual orchestra'
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.Musicians playing in some of the biggest shows in the West End are threatening to go on strike to stop the theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh replacing them with an electronic "virtual orchestra".
The Musicians' Union is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow to decide what action to take. About 150 musicians from the 17 principal musicals, including Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Blood Brothers, will meet in central London to discuss possible strikes.
The orchestra row started last month when officials from the musicals company Cameron Mackintosh confirmed to representatives of the MU that the orchestra for Les Miserables would be cut from 22 musicians down to 10.
The production is moving from its existing home, the Palace Theatre, at the end of next month to the Queen's Theatre, where the orchestra pit can accommodate no more than 10 musicians.
The 12 redundant musicians will be replaced by an electronic virtual orchestra known as Sinfonia, which is operated by two technicians.
The West End theatre players fear that the decision to use Sinfonia in Les Miserables will set a precedent for the machine to be used in other shows.
One official close to the negotiations said the musicians were "extremely scared and angry" and described the most likely option as "going to war with Sir Cameron".
Under legislation preventing secondary strikes, musicians on other productions will be unable to walk out. However, if tomorrow's meeting votes in favour of a strike ballot, the musicians are hopeful it will send a message to other producers that they are prepared to strike if Sinfonia is introduced elsewhere. In the event of a strike ballot, only members currently playing in Les Miserables would vote.
Horace Trubridge, assistant general secretary of the MU, said: "We are at a very sensitive stage of the deliberations. The strength of feeling in the West End has grown rather than reduced."
A spokesman for Sir Cameron said there were no plans for any of his other shows to use a virtual orchestra instead of musicians. "None of them are moving theatres," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments