Equity is the UK Trade Union representing professional performers and other creative workers from across the spectrum of the entertainment, creative and cultural industries. In this site you will find a wide range of information including
rates of pay,
how to join Equity,
office contacts,
branch contacts and websites,
careers advice and how you can get involved in helping
theatres and companies at risk. Equity
members can find more detailed information including job information, individual contacts, Equity agreements, legal help, welfare and tax advice, how to take an active role in Equity and work opportunities, and can add or update directory details.
What is EQUITY?
Equity is the only Trade Union to represent artists from across the entire spectrum of arts and entertainment. Formed in 1930 by a group of West End of London performers, Equity quickly spread to encompass the whole range of professional entertainment so our membership includes actors, singers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, theatre directors and designers, variety and circus artists, television and radio presenters, walk-on and supporting artists, stunt performers and directors and theatre fight directors.
Although we are a Trade Union, Equity is not politically affiliated and so does not make payments to any political party. This puts Equity in the strong position of being able to lobby with impunity governments of all political colours. We are however affiliated to the Trades Unions Congress and Equity delegates attend the annual TUC conference as a means of bringing performers' issues to a wider audience.
The main function of Equity is to negotiate minimum terms and conditions of employment throughout the entire world of entertainment and to endeavour to ensure these take account of social and economic changes. We look to the future as well, negotiating agreements to embrace the new and emerging technologies which affect performers so satellite, digital television, new media and so on are all covered, as are the more traditional areas. We also work at national level by lobbying government and other bodies on issues of paramount importance to the membership. In addition we operate at an international level through the Federation of International Artists which Equity helped to establish, the International Committee for Artistic Freedom and through agreements with sister unions overseas.
In addition to these core activities, Equity strives to provide a wide range of services for members and so they are eligible for a whole host of
benefits of membership which are continually being revised and developed.
EQUITY commitees
Equity has a large number of specialist and geographical committees, all of which are made up of elected members. These committees are crucial to Equity as they raise and discuss issues that are of relevance to their specialism or area. They advise the Equity Council and put motions to the Annual Representative Conference and so introduce, influence or change union policy. If you are a member and want to know more about participating in this work please
log in.
Specialist committees:
Audio
Choreographers
Concert and Session Singers
Disability
International Committee for Artistic Freedom
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Minority Ethnic
Models
Opera Deputies
Independent Theatre Arts
Stage Management
Stunt
Theatre Designers
Theatre Directors
Theatre Fight Directors
Variety Advisory Committee
Walk-on and Supporting Artists
West End Deputies
Women
Young Members
Geographical committees:London Area
Midlands Area
Northern Area
Northern Ireland
Scottish National
South East Area
South West Area
Welsh National
So you want to be a performer:
Performers need to be talented and skilled. They also need stamina, dedication and self-discipline. Nearly all professional performers have had training either at a drama or dance school or at university. Courses at specialist drama, dance or other performing arts schools tend to be more vocational and practical than university courses which by and large are more theoretical.
We are just finishing a project on careers information with both of the Sector Skills Councils that cover the entertainment industry. As a result there will soon be profiles of jobs such as actor, stand up comedian, stage manager, walk-on artist etc available on this website and on the sites of Skillset (audiovisual industries)
http://www.skillset.org/ and CC Skills (live performance industries)
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/. Keep checking the sites.
There are BTEC National Diplomas in performing arts which many colleges teach. These are equivalent to A levels and normally require four GCSEs at grades A-C for entry. These can be a platform to move onto training at a higher level such as the BTEC Higher National Diplomas, or specialist courses at drama school.
If you are interested in a career in drama you should contact the National Council for Drama Training at 5 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SN - tel: 020 7387 3650 or www.ncdt.co.uk. They will be able to provide a list of colleges which run accredited drama courses. Professional training on an accredited course is perceived as by far the best way to enter the acting profession. Some government funding is available for people on such courses. The Council for Dance Education and Training at Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS, tel: 020 7247 4030, or www.cdet.org,uk should be able to provide similar information for those interested in dance. You can also get information on courses at all levels from your local library. There is also the Conference of Drama Schools which represents most of the leading drama schools in the UK and they have a very useful website with information about different careers in the entertainment industry, www.drama.ac.uk. Many of the members of this group offer degree courses in acting. Please note that auditions form part of the entry process for places at specialist dance and drama schools.
There is also training available for people wishing to learn circus skills and comprehensive information on this can be found at
http://www.circusarts.org.uk/Younger people can find out about less lengthy training by contacting theatres in your area to ask if they run any theatre groups or workshops. You could also contact local private dance and drama schools to see if they run weekend or summer courses which will not clash with school timetables. The names of theatres, schools and their telephone numbers can be found in the publication Contacts. A copy of Contacts can be obtained from Spotlight, 7 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7PB - tel: 020 7437 7631, or you could ask your local library to get a copy. There is also the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
http://www.nyt.org.uk/, and the National Association of Youth Theatres
http://www.nayt.org.uk/.
Equity can help filmmakers find performers by helping performers start a career and get well known, so then filmmakers can go to a theatre or special events and find good actor's/actress's for thier film. The EQUITY website also lets employers advertize vacansies free of charge! So it would be easier for actors etc. to find career paths.
"Equity is the only force in the entertainment world to bring some order to the very uncertain lives of performers." Judi Dench
"Live performance is vital to the health and well-being of society and fundamental to the development of quality entertainment. Equity manages to bring together all sections of the industry." Roy Hudd
"I have been impressed watching Equity take strong and determined action on behalf of its members. It is reassuring to know that Equity is there ready to fight your corner if trouble comes." Philip Hedley
"Our business is very tough - we need strength behind us. Equity is willing, waiting and wanting to supply it." Gillian Lynne
"The healthy relationship between British theatre and Equity is vital if theatre is to flourish in the 21st century. Theatre directors are uniquely placed to lead in strengthening this partnership. They should get involved by joining Equity." David Thacker
"The support and advice that Equity provides are invaluable to all dancers, whether they are starting out or well-established in the profession." Jonathan Cope
EQUITY offices
London
Head Office Guild HouseUpper St Martins LaneLondonWC2H 9EG
Telephone: 020 7379 6000Email:
info@equity.org.ukFascimile: 020 7379 7001
Midlands
Tim Johnson
Office 1, Steeple House, Percy St, Coventry, CV1 3BYTel/Fax: 02476 553 612 //-->Email:
info@midlands-equity.org.ukNorth East
Nigel Jones
The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BXTel/Fax: 01142 759 746 //-->Email:
njones@sheffield.equity.org.ukNorth West and Isle of Man
Jamie Briers & Mary Hooley
Express Networks, 1 George Leigh Street, Manchester, M4 5DLTel: 0161 244 5995 Fax: 0161 244 5971 //-->Email:
info@manchester-equity.org.ukScotland and N.Ireland
Lorne Boswell, Drew McFarlane & Irene Gilchrist
114 Union Street, Glasgow, G1 3QQTel: 0141 248 2472 Fax: 0141 248 2473 //-->Email:
igilchrist@glasgow.equity.org.ukSouth East
John Ainslie
Guild House, Upper St Martins Lane, London, WC2H 9EGTel: 020 7670 0229 Fax: 020 7379 7001 //-->Email:
jainslie@equity.org.ukWales and South West
Christopher Ryde, Mair James Buckley
Transport House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SDTel: 029 2039 7971 Fax: 029 2023 0754 //-->Email:
info@cardiff-equity.org.uk 
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