WINTER 2017 www.equity.org.uk Celebrating 20 years of the Equity Pension scheme Students join new deputies network Report from the TUC Congress Face value EUNICE OLUMIDE: MODELS NEED A UNION First Act Insurance is delighted to introduce Contents News 04 Equity Pension 06 London arts manifesto Success stories 10 Progress in dance 11 Audiobooks event 10 14 A range of insurances that complement the established Cover star Equity cover: 24 Eunice Olumide 24 Features 24> • Employers’/Public Liability (when employing others and distinct from the Equity members PLI cover). 14 Student Deputies • Sets, scenery, props and costumes. 18 Meet the CDA 08 • Portable, technical equipment and instruments. 20 TUC report • Hired in equipment cover. • Buildings and contents. Campaigns 28 White Ribbon day • Business interruption. Key features include Plus 08 Meet the membership Competitive online quote and buy cover provided by HISCOX. • 30 Letters 32> • Annual or short period cover available. 32 Branch update Scan this QR > code with your Visit www.showtimeinsurance.co.uk smartphone or tablet device to Tel 020 8686 5050 be taken directly 32 there © Martin Hunter Where and when you need it! 08 > First Act Insurance* is the preferred insurance intermediary to Cover image: *First Act Insurance is a trading name of Hencilla Canworth Ltd Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 226263 FRONT OF HOUSE UPFRONT Christine Payne Acting for Others General Secretary Acting Class film examines helps vulnerable EQUITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE UK industry bias have taken part in Acting for Others annual bucket The shocking nature of the sexual harassment collection dates. On 16 and 23 October, casts and abuse being reported has caused us to think EQUITY COUNCILLOR DAVID JOHN asked audiences to donate to a cause close to about what more we can do to support our members REPRESENTED the union at the premier their hearts: offering support to vulnerable of The Acting Class: a documentary about members of the industry. class bias within the industry. Acting for Others is an organisation made up THE RECENT REVELATIONS Rocks and Inez Thorn. On 19 September, he spoke on a panel of 15 charities that offer “advice, emotional concerning sexual harassment in the film This produced an online publication A discussing the issues of working-class support and financial assistance to those who industry have been appalling. This Guide to Bullying - What You Can Do, plus representation in the performing arts have worked in the entertainment industry”. They behaviour is simply unacceptable and postcards and a section within the at TUC Congress House. work with actors, dancers, musicians, creative Equity will continue to defend our members members’ area of the website www.equity. David John said he was delighted to team members, front of house and backstage staff in the casting process or in the workplace org.uk/bullying alongside our existing speak at the event, adding: “Young who are in need of help. and will hold the perpetrators to account. Bullying Reporting Line. Two training days working-class talent entering the industry On 20 May, at The Actors’ Church, Covent This is an issue the union takes took place in January 2017 for is a subject close to my heart. I personally Garden, London casts competed in the West End extremely seriously and we have to use the representatives from branches, and at our have been able to make my living in this Bake Off, which raised £5,000 for the cause. moment to try and effect real and conference in May this year we ran a industry only due to the education grant In 2016, productions and events across the meaningful change. Change not just in session called ‘Tips for Dealing with system, which is sadly long gone. nations managed to collect £362,000 for Acting attitudes but in practices. Rosie Hilal from Bullying’ for our student members. “Our job as actors is to reflect the for Others, with the Prince of Wales Theatre’s Book Equity’s Women’s Committee put our case Bullying has a detrimental effect on whole of society in an authentic and of Mormon raising £42,810.33 over two weeks. brilliantly in multiple news outlets, mental well-being, and so we have also HAPPY BIRTHDAY convincing way and we need people from You can find out more about Acting for Others’ including BBC Breakfast, Sky News and worked with The Stage, the British all backgrounds and cultures to do this. work, and how to help this charity, by visiting: Newsnight. She spoke for us all. As our Association for Performing Arts Medicine This is an extremely important issue for www.actingforothers.com Manifesto for Casting sets out, we believe and Spotlight on a mental health website: EQUITY PENSION! Equity to commit to, as many members are the industry will thrive only if it adheres to www.artsminds.co.uk struggling to survive in the industry and the highest professional standards, which On behalf of Equity, Louise Grainger CAST OF MAMMA MIA! AND EQUITY’S COUNCIL JOIN IN THE many possible future members are being certainly must include those in positions of recently delivered the keynote speech at the CELEBRATIONS MARKING 20 YEARS OF THE EQUITY PENSION counted out before round one.” power and responsibility, and also increases International Comedy Conference on The film follows Tom Stocks, a the equality and diversity on stage, screen, mental health in the comedy industry. performer who had to twice turn down radio and online. In October, on World Mental Health THE EQUITY PENSION SCHEME drama school offers because he could not It takes courage for members to make a Day, the Northern Ireland General Branch (EPS) HAS CELEBRATED ITS 20TH afford the fees. Subsequently, he set up stand and speak out so publicly on this took part in an event concerning Building ANNIVERSARY, as the Novello Theatre the Actors Awareness campaign to tackle issue and it takes tremendous courage for Resilience for Arts and Freelancers and production of Mamma Mia! marks its third of class inequality within the industry. those who have been the victim of sexual members at the Welsh National Opera got consecutive year of the full cast being The documentary also features actors harassment to come forward and report the involved in raising awareness about mental signed up to the scheme. including Julie Hesmondhalgh, Christopher abuse. The union is here to support you and health in the workplace. In addition, the The EPS was set up to help Mamma Mia! Eccleston and Samuel West, who speak Distribution starts: we will treat cases reported to us in complete East of Scotland and the Bristol & West performers and creative Deputies, above, about how the industry has become more confidence. Please get in touch if you have General Branches have undertaken practitioners prepare for their and the Equity exclusive, and why a lack of socioeconomic concerns (see contacts on page 34). valuable work locally on mental health. The future and retirement. Council mark the promoting the benefits of diversity on (and behind) screen must Members’ fee free The shocking nature of the sexual East of Scotland branch set up a mental It was designed specifically Pension’s Equity membership, such as be redressed. THIS MONTH EQUITY WILL commence harassment and abuse being reported has health sub-committee this year and have for members because of their anniversary the EPS, agreements, insurance The documentary’s directors Mike distributions to performers of royalties and other caused us to think again about what more created a members’ support pack, find it on unpredicatable work lives and is and legal help to their colleagues. Wayne and Deirdre O’Neill are interested in usage payments related to their work we can do to support our members. As a their website at: www.equity.org.uk/branches the only scheme that theatre, film, The Equity Council and union staff screening the film to Equity branches, undertaken on Equity contracts, beginning with consequence, Vice President Maureen Following two motions from this year’s television and radio production also took time out from the October contact them at [email protected] Equity film and television royalties. Beattie and I will put forward proposals to Equity Conference, from the London Area companies will pay into. Council meeting to reflect on the Equity distributions will include, but are not the Council meeting in November on Annual General Meeting and the West Mamma Mia! Deputies Mark Isherwood achievements of the pension scheme. limited to, the following: Equity film and dealing with sexual harassment. & South West London General Branch, and Oli Reynolds are delighted in their Currently, the EPS is managing more television royalties; BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and On another related matter, bullying, the Equity will be appointing a member of fellow cast members’ united commitment than £117 million, and there are around Sky catch-up/On Demand services; BBC, ITV union has been working with our sister staff to support our anti-bullying and to the scheme. 8,300 people signed up to it. The EPS is and Channel 4 European Retransmission; unions in the Federation of Entertainment harassment work. “It shows that people really believe in now Aviva’s, the insurance, savings and Theatre cast album recordings. Unions on the Creating Without Conflict All organisations must constantly review the change that can come from being in investments firm, largest personal pension These are contractual payments and will campaign. A composite motion on bullying their own internal procedures to ensure Equity,” Oli said. “It’s a great thing for the scheme and it has received more than normally be paid to the agent named on the was passed at the 2014 Equity Conference they are fit for purpose.