Equity fights to secure compensation for Cinderella company following protest

About 60 people attended a protest against the handling of the closure of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella outside the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End, as union Equity demands compensation for its affected members.

The demonstration was organised by Equity, which objects to the news of the closure being shared on a Sunday before a bank holiday (May 1) and claims that some company members first heard the news through social media. 

The union said in a statement: "This is unacceptable – all creative workers deserve to be treated with dignity at work.

"In addition, new cast and stage management had recently been hired and were due to start work soon. 

"These performers had planned their lives around what they thought was going to be their next job, including expected future earnings, accommodation arrangements and even turning down other work." 

Equity is demanding that current and future cast members receive compensation for the work they were contracted to undertake.

The union has also called on producers to "give more thought" to how they communicate such news and to tell the union in advance of a scheduled closure.

Equity’s general secretary Paul W Fleming said: "Equity members made this show. They poured their hearts and skills into it through the worst two years in living memory. 

"Now they’re jobless, effectively sacked by press release. All unions are fighting forms of this practice right now – and Equity will get compensation for our members after the pain and distress this has caused them."

Among the attendees at the protest on May 3 was performer Nicola Blackman, who is currently starring in The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre in the West End.

She described the producer’s handling of the closure as "absolutely outrageous".

She added: "[Producers need to] let people know and keep it transparent. Tell them in advance before it hits social media." 

A member of the production, who wished to remain anonymous, described the closure as "abrupt".

They told The Stage: "The cast and crew were told onstage after the show, but I think it’s pretty tough for people coming into the new cast who found out on social media.

"I’m not surprised, but it’s just like, what now? Something will come up, but it’s just another sense of upheaval."

Joseph Richardson, who is currently performing in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical in the West End, said it was "laughable" that some company members had found out via social media. 

"Sending out a press release on a Sunday evening on the bank holiday weekend seems unfair and unreasonable, and it feels like it’s been mishandled," Richardson said. 

"SOLT and Equity clearly need to have a very big conversation around this so it can’t happen again."

Head of BECTU, Philippa Childs, described the news and the communication of it from Cinderella’s producers as devastating. 

She said in a statement: “To now hear of a loss of current or future employment via the news or social media, over a bank holiday weekend, is unacceptable, and BECTU stands in solidarity with everyone impacted by the announcement.

“We have long called for a reset of the theatre industry to address its poor terms and conditions. This latest announcement makes it clear urgent change is needed to modernise the industry, create fairer working conditions, re-balance working lives and safeguard the future of the industry."