Theatregoers protest Equity's treatment of its Jewish members

Hundreds of theatregoers have signed an open letter to Equity’s leaders criticising their stance over a pro-Palestinian march earlier this year, and claiming that they have marginalised the union’s Jewish membership.

Representatives from the group also staged a demonstration outside Equity’s central London headquarters this week.

They say they feel "disappointed and marginalised by the political actions" of the union’s general secretary Paul W Fleming and president Maureen Beattie, who made a statement in May criticising "the disproportionate actions of the current Israeli government".

The letter, signed by about 300 people, claims Fleming and Beattie used their professional status to announce an official Equity presence at a pro-Palestinian march. Fleming and Beattie were criticised by some members for taking a political stance at a time when antisemitism was being reported in the UK because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In response, Equity has insisted its policy was "overwhelmingly supported by our membership of every background" and described the rise of antisemitism in the UK as "apalling".

Earlier this year, several high-profile members, including actor Maureen Lipman, cancelled their memberships amid claims that the union’s actions were "fanning the flames of antisemitism".

Now, a group describing themselves as "enthusiastic, regular, ticket-buying theatregoers" have delivered an open letter to Equity, and earlier this week demonstrated outside the union’s offices near Leicester Square.

The letter states that Fleming and Beattie’s actions "involved Equity, the creative practitioners’ union, in a complex international conflict 3,000 miles away, in a fashion which is incompatible with the union’s duty to prioritise the well-being of all its members". It adds: "By allying itself so one-sidedly with Hamas, a terrorist organisation, Equity’s leadership has marginalised the union’s support for its Jewish membership," it adds.

The group argues that Equity’s leadership breached the union’s Safe Spaces commitment, and said: "This crisis for Equity members also affects theatregoers. Post-Covid we are longing to see live performances but are faced with the dilemma that some of those on stage and behind the scenes are no longer in a safe space."

Fleming and Beattie have since issued a further statement asserting that the union’s stance was balanced and that they stand "against Hamas and against antisemitism".

The letter calls on Beattie and Fleming to take antisemitism awareness training and rebuild bridges with members that "they have let down".

It also demands that they acknowledge that their intervention was "ill-judged and partisan", as well as recognise "its role in escalating the upsurge in antisemitism in the UK".

In response to the letter and demonstration, the union said: "Equity’s policy is overwhelmingly supported by our membership of every background. Our progressive position supports peace for Israeli and Palestinian artists, and stands opposed to terror whether from Hamas or the Israeli government.

"The appalling rise of antisemitism in the UK and across the world is something which Equity not just condemns, but actively fights against. This is done alongside our Jewish members, through defending individuals in the workplace, developing policies with activists to inform our collective work, and our solidarity with anti-racist campaigns."

The open letter to Equity in full

"We are enthusiastic, regular, ticket-buying theatre goers, and write to publicly support those members of the Equity union who have been disappointed and marginalised by the political actions of its general secretary Paul Fleming, and president Maureen Beattie. Those actions are:

• The call on May 15 by Maureen Beattie for sanctions against Israel.
• The statement on May 20 by Paul Fleming and Maureen Beattie, in which they criticised what they called “the disproportionate actions of the current Israeli government” in defending itself.

Using their professional status, they announced an official Equity presence at the pro-Palestinian demonstration in London on May 22.

By doing this, they involved Equity, the creative practitioners’ union, in a complex international conflict 3,000 miles away, in a fashion which is incompatible with the union’s duty to prioritise the well-being of all its members.

By allying itself so one-sidedly with Hamas, a terrorist organisation, Equity’s leadership has marginalised the union’s support for its Jewish membership.

They have breached the union’s “safe space” commitment which begins: “Every single one of us working on this project is entitled to work in a safe space, a space free of fear, a space free of bullying and harassment of any kind”.

Some established performers such as Dame Maureen Lipman have publicly left Equity. For others this is not an option, since they need the support and resources Equity provides, and for which there is no official alternative.

This crisis for Equity members also affects theatregoers. Post-Covid we are longing to see live performances but are faced with the dilemma that some of those on stage and behind the scenes are no longer in a safe space.

Paul Fleming and Maureen Beattie have subsequently issued a statement claiming the Equity stance was balanced and that they stand against Hamas and against antisemitism. Yet the pro-Palestinian demo in London on May 22 was so rife with hatred of Jews worldwide, that any anti-Hamas message was drowned out.

The following day, May 23, there was indeed a demonstration against Hamas. It was free from antisemitism and for pro-Palestinian rights. This was a music-filled demo organised by the Jewish community.

If Paul Fleming and Maureen Beattie are as balanced as they claim, why did they not organise an Equity presence at that demo as well?

We call on Fleming and Beattie to:

1. Acknowledge how ill-judged and partisan their intervention has been, and also its role in escalating the upsurge in antisemitism in the UK.
2. Undertake antisemitism awareness training.
3. Rebuild bridges with those union members they have let down."