A Rallying Cry From Equity

The Equity Council is calling on every member of the union, and theatregoers, to get behind Equity's campaign and to make contact with their local MP to ask them to argue for proper theatre funding.
The Equity Council is calling on every member of the union, and theatregoers, to get behind Equity's campaign and to make contact with their local MP to ask them to argue for proper theatre funding.

Equity is the trade union that represents artistes from across the entire spectrum of arts and entertainment. Equity is also the Grand Theatre partner for the National Theatre of Variety at Blackpool. This month, Equity launched a campaign for better funding for theatre across the United Kingdom.

Everybody knows that live theatre is a wonderful thing. It's hugely popular - 25 million tickets sold last year alone - and the Government tells us how important it is for fostering social inclusion and education. So why are we getting signals from Government that in the current Comprehensive Spending Review grants forthe arts, and therefore for theatre, may not keep up with inflation? This Autumn, Equity launched one of the biggest campaigns in its history to defend non-profit and subsidised theatre.

The Equity Council is calling on every member of the union, and theatregoers, to get behind Equity's campaign and to make contact with their local MP to ask them to argue for proper theatre funding.

"Equity wants to make sure that Gordon Brown knows that Equity members and theatre audiences are watching him", said Christine Payne, General Secretary.

By www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk