www.equity.org.uk MAGAZINE SPRING 2018 Equity’s solutions for the sexual harassment crisis Why circus is thriving in its SURVIVING 250th year STAGE FRIGHT Making the case Stephanie Cole for local casting is fighting to end the stigma of stage fright CELEBRATE LGBT SUPPORTING ARTISTS SARA PASCOE’S HISTORY MONTH OVERSEAS EQUITY LECTURE INSURANCE? EQUITY MAGAZINE SPRING 2018 IN THIS ISSUE 4 NEWS Solutions to sexual harassment, negotiations in Exclusive Professional Property Cover for theatre and the new Sheffield branch Equity members 7 UPFRONT Christine Payne, General Secretary UK/Europe or Worldwide 8 MEET THE MEMBERSHIP cameras and ancillary equipment, PA, sound ,lighting, and mechanical effects equipment, portable computer Dan Edge actor, wrestler, aerialist and part of 28 equipment, rigging equipment, tools, props, sets and costumes, musical instruments, make up and prosthetics. Equity’s Deaf and Disabled members Committee 10 SUCCESS STORIES GET AN INSURANCE QUOTE AT FIRSTACTINSURANCE.CO.UK Members visit Parliament to lobby MPs, ERA 22 launch event, student deputy network 16 Tel 020 8686 5050 14 AID FOR INTERNATIONAL PERFORMERS First Act Insurance* is the preferred insurance intermediary to Music For Hope’s work in El Salvador *First Act Insurance is a trading name of Hencilla Canworth Ltd Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 226263 16 FIGHTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT Maureen Beattie reveals the union’s response First Act Insurance presents... 20 LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH Discussing the major stage stars who founded Equity that were gay, lesbian or bisexual 22 CELEBRATING CIRCUS The attraction of circus in its 250th year 28 STEPHANIE COLE Supporting those suffering stage fright 32 IN APPRECIATION Peter Plouviez and Anthony Booth 20 34 CAMPAIGNS Local casting, White Ribbon, Harker’s Studio Key features include • Competitive online quote and buy cover provided by HISCOX. 35 PRESIDENT MALCOLM SINCLAIR A trade union provides long term support • Annual or short period cover available. 36 LETTERS Migraine: Help for migraine charity needed, VISIT Tel 020 8686 5050 SHOWTIMEINSURANCE.CO.UK any information about Guy Standeven? Where and when you need it! 38 YOUR EQUITY 10 First Act Insurance* is the preferred insurance intermediary to Member offers *First Act Insurance is a trading name of Hencilla Canworth Ltd Authorised and Equity staff profile: Ian Manborde, equalities Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 226263 and diversity organiser Branch notes Explore the London region 8 2 equity SPRING 2018 www.equity.org.uk www.equity.org.uk SPRING 2018 equity 3 FRONT OF HOUSE IN BRIEF UNION CELEBRATES THE SOLUTIONS TO Ethical Pensions YOUNG WORKERS’ MONTH Following members’ calls for a “low carbon SEXUAL HARASSMENT fund” that will divert Equity Pension pot In celebration of the Trade Union Congress’s away from fossil fuel investments, the union Maureen Beattie reveals the union’s interim has agreed to speak to Aviva about ethical annual Young Workers’ Month, Equity’s Young report on solving the sexual harassment crisis pension provisions. Members Committee (YMC) filled November Equity would like to remind members that they can indicate which of the more than with events and social media giveaways. EQUITY HAS RELEASED ITS INTERIM FINDINGS into the sexual 270 investment funds they wish to invest There were training workshops in London harassment crisis and they focus on the key areas of employers, in, including Ethical and Sustainable Future workplaces, agents, casting, education and the law. Sheffield General funds. For more information contact Andrew and Manchester, and the committee The complete report and the list of actions will be released later in February, Branch launches Barker at [email protected] colloborated with the West and South West but the union’s interim ‘agenda for change’ covers the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements, outlines that castings should be held in appropriate and A NEW EQUITY GENERAL BRANCH for Popularis appointed London Branch to host an industry panel recognised work spaces and should never involve only Sheffield-based members has been The Council has appointed Popularis Ltd featuring Game of Throne’s actor Gethin an actor and casting director/director but should created due to popular demand. as Scrutineers to oversee the 2018 round include at least one third party. Frustrated that the branch of elections for the Equity Council, the Anthony. It challenges drama schools to have their own representing Sheffield residents always President, the Appeals Committee and the robust codes of conduct regarding harassment, as held meetings in Leeds, actor Liam Standing Orders Committee. well as preparing students for the world of work Gerrard spoke with the union about including teaching them how to deal with conflict setting up a new branch for his city’s Notice of AGMs NEW DEAL FOR CHARITY and harassment in the entertainment industry. members. He brought a petition to Included with this magazine is an insert with Employers should identify a properly trained Equity council, who granted his request. information about your local Equity Annual POKER TOURNAMENT ‘go to’ person with whom problems can be Liam said: “There used to be a General Meeting, for a full list go to: raised. Boards, too, should do everything Sheffield branch many years ago and www.equity.org.uk/AGM2018 FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS, the second appropriate to support workers, including now there is renewed demand from a Equity charity Poker Tournament will be recognising the importance of gender balance in lot of younger members and performers FEU funding renewed held on 8 April, at the London Irish Centre. improving organisational culture. basing themselves here. Equity have successfully secured enough Organised by Equity member Keith Bartlett, the Equity itself has committed to rolling out “It’s not hard to see why. It’s the fourth from the government’s Union Learning Fund event raises money for Mary’s Meals, who provide an awareness campaign including advice, largest city in the country, it has a huge to enable the FEU training programme to school meals to poor children in Africa, Asia, training and a dedicated Equity Helpline. producing theatre, there is so much live continue until March 2019. Latin America and the Caribbean. You can register Maureen Beattie, Equity’s vice performance being made here at a grass your place at the tournament for £20 by going to president, who led the union’s working roots level and there are two universities ARC Observers www.justgiving.com/fundraising/equitypokertournament group on sexual harassment said: with excellent drama courses. If you wish to apply to be an observer at “Sexual harassment has been in the “The interest in our own branch is Equity’s annual representative conference, marrow of our industry, but we are going huge,” he continued. “We already have please fill in the form on page 15. to make it so utterly unacceptable that plans for several meetings including VIEWS NEEDED ON THEATRE PAY even the most hardline harassers will talks on dealing with tax and national East Midlands Branch refrain from moving in on someone. insurance, film screenings and guest presents charity cheque THE UNION WILL SHORTLY commence negotiations with Commercial and “There has been a culture of fear Q&As with visiting casting directors and To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Subsidised Theatre employers. In advance of this, Equity asks members in our business that has been holding other industry professionals. The future both their branch’s foundation and the to share their experiences and provide their input by filling out a survey. people back from getting support. looks good for the Steel City!” unification of Variety Artistes’ Federation Following the successful surveying of artistes currently working in the Members need to be reassured Members who wish to discuss the and the Actors’ Equity Association, the West End, performers and stage managers employed by Commercial and that the union is here for them creation of the branch and its future Equity East Midlands Variety Branch hosted Subsidised Theatre productions are urged to provide the information and we will fight tooth and events can get in touch with Liam a fundraising Variety Show. £500 was raised which will enable the union secure the best possible agreements for its nail to make changes in directly at [email protected]. on the night, which was donated to the East members. Their responses are a vital tool for the negotiation process. the workplace.” For more information about Equity’s Midlands and Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire The survey will be emailed out in February to all members working in Read more about the branches, see page 40. Air Ambulance Charity. these areas. interim report on page 16. 4 equity SPRING 2018 www.equity.org.uk www.equity.org.uk SPRING 2018 equity 5 FRONT OF HOUSE UPFRONT A moment of change CREATIVES BAND TOGETHER There has been great work in response to the sexual harassment crisis, but Equity is the only organisation that encompasses the entire entertainment industry and can make lasting change FOR POST-BREXIT MOBILITY EQUITY, as part of the and industry figures, including Performers’ Alliance All Party Labour Shadow Minister for Exiting many campaign groups, such as Working Party, which created the Parliamentary Group (APPG) joined the European Union Paul Blomfield Women in TV & Film, making Manifesto, and I was really pleased nine other APPGs to ask MPs and Peers MP. Equity members working in TV excellent contributions. However, to congratulate them on a job well to campaign for ease of movement commercials, theatre, TV and film, stage it is only Equity who represents done. Members concerns about post-Brexit. management and video games across workers across the industry such as the casting process have been The ten groups, which span across the EU attended the event to speak to actors, variety, light entertainment, heard and the union has been the breadth of the UK’s creative politicians on behalf of their peers.