Figures just released by Equity show that one in four British actors did not earn a single penny from their profession last year, and 42% earned less than £5,000. A tiny 2% earned more than £100,000.
In the Queen's Birthday Honurs list last week were Julie Walters who receives the OBE (Order of the British Empire), and Juliet Stevenson and Simon Callow, who both receive the CBE (Commander of the British Empire). Lady Antonia Fraser, wife of playwright Harold Pinter, also receives the CBE, whilst opera-singer Thomas Allen receives a knighthood.
Richmond's Orange Tree Theatre is to cancel its Autumn season this year. The theatre, believed to have debts of £100,000 is going dark as a "house-keeping measure". It is believed that it is also intended to put pressure on funding bodies to increase its existing £300,000 grant.