Equity, "fed up" with inaction by the Arts Council, is to begin an inquiry into the extra costs incurred by members when touring. After the long dispute with the TMA two years ago, ACE had said that it would conduct a survey into touring costs which would provide a proper basis for negotiations between the union and management. So far that promise has not been kept, although Equity claims that it has reminded ACE about it frequently.
Now Equity will carry out its own survery and will make the findings available to ACE, as a basis on which to conduct their own promised research.
Equity is quick to point out that this will not lead to industrial action, according to assistant secretary for theatre and variety Christine Payne. "We have no argument with the TMA," she said.
BECTU millennium strike threat
BECTU members may strike over payments for working the millennium weekend. The TMA and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) has offered normal bank holiday payments to those who have to work on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. BECTU, however, feels that this is inadequate. "This is not a normal bank holiday," asisstant general secretary Gerry Morrison said.Although no venues are expected to be open on the night of 31st December, a number are understood to be planning matinees.
BECTU is demanding that a bonus of £200 should be paid for any length of time spent working on New Year's Eve and/or New Year's Day, but £500 should be payable to anyone required to work between 9 pm on 31st December and 9 am on 1st January. According to Morrison, other organisations, incuding the BBC, have agreed to the bonus scheme.
Edinburgh home for Theatre Archipelago?
According to The Stage, proposals are being discussed which would establish Theatre Archipelago as the resident company at Edinburgh's King's Theatre. The King's is currently a receiving house.
The British Independent Film Awards were announced last week:
Hall's Romeo and Julietpostponed
Sir Peter Hall's production of Romeo and Juliet starring Minnie Driver at the Theatre Royal Norwich, planned for February, has been postponed because of the star's film commitments. The producers are currently negotiating with Driver's agent and with Hall to find a period of time when the production can go ahead.
More than 10,000 tickets for the newly refurbished Royal Opera House were sold in the first day the booking office opened. Although sixty phone lines were in operation, there were still long queues of callers waiting to get through.