West & South West London branch of Equity
As well as working as an actor, I‘m the Chair of the West & South West London branch of Equity, the trade union for actors and other industry professionals. It’s the largest branch in the country, with over 2,200 members and the place is buzzing!
We have monthly meetings with really interesting guest speakers from industry - this year alone we’ve had Nica Burns, CEO of West End producer Nimax Theatres, the Mayor of London’s first Night Czar Amy Lamé and the incomparable Sir Ian McKellen.
We organise workshops with up and coming directors like Simon Godwin. We put on audition days just for branch members with people like Paines Plough’s James Grieve. We have regular rehearsed readings at places like Theatre 503 and the Drayton Arms.
We offer monthly play readings. All this as well as supporting Equity staff in their campaigns - like last year’s Professionally Made, Professionally Paid campaign, encouraging fringe theatres to pay at least the legal minimum wage instead of nothing; the campaign against HMRC’s proposals for, in effect, quarterly tax returns.
We even visit members who can’t always physically get to
branch meetings, bringing them up to date on what we’ve been doing.
Come along and join us!
Everyone welcome - if you’re not yet an Equity member, you’ll be doubly welcome and hopefully will be encouraged by what you see to join. Next branch meeting is Wed 27th September, 7pm at the Seven Dials Club, 42 Earlham Street, Covent Garden - opposite the Donmar.
See you there - Stronger Together!
