West End shows could be forced to temporarily close this summer as performers and stage managers threaten to strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Members of Equity voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in an indicative ballot, which brings a “real possibility of a summer of strikes”, according to the union.
Equity has been negotiating a multi-year agreement with West End producers’ association the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) since December, but have come to an impasse regarding pay, holidays and how injuries are handled.
As a result, performers and stage managers working in the West End were asked to vote in the indicative ballot, asking whether they are prepared to take strike action if an improved offer is not received.
With an 89 per cent turnout, members of the arts union voted 98 per cent in favour.
Following the result, the union now has the right to have a statutory ballot, which would form the legal basis for industrial action in the West End.
Equity has been pushing for 7 per cent pay increases each year for three years, as well as better holiday provision, incapacity pay if a worker is injured on a production and specialist payments for roles such as fight captain.
The union has described some conversations with SOLT as “constructive” thus far, saying it was “pleased with tentative proposals around improvements to maternity and paternity pay, wigs, hair, and makeup, and other terms”.
An Equity spokesperson told the Standard a statutory ballot will be launched if their next meeting with SOLT, due to take place on June 10, is not positive.
The union has specified they are considering strike action on Saturdays and an overtime ban.
Equity has around 1,000 members, including people working on 44 shows in the West End.
A recent report on British theatre found that demand for live performance had never been higher, with 37 million people attending shows around the UK and more than 17 million in the West End in 2025.
However, theatre producers continue to face financial challenges despite record audiences, with production costs doubling in the last decade.
Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming said: “West End workers have spoken loud and clear: they’re demanding better pay and conditions and are prepared to move to strike action to secure them.
“This is a resounding result in an unprecedented ballot. Never before has Equity asked members to back our position in theatre negotiations in this way, but they have stepped up and rightly expect their pay and conditions to improve.
“The West End is internationally renowned, and these world class stages should pay world class wages, not leave workers needing second jobs to pay their bills or burnt out by six-day weeks and insufficient holiday.
“SOLT and the producers must wake up to the real possibility of a summer of strikes unless offers are improved.”
Mr Fleming added that the West End has had a “very successful three years”, and that Equity members wanted to share in that success.
He said that he was hopeful industrial action could be avoided, as it was in 2023.
A spokesperson for SOLT said: “Constructive, good faith discussions are ongoing, and we have already made meaningful progress together in a number of areas.
“We look forward to our upcoming meeting with the Equity team and remain committed to the jointly agreed process, and to continued productive discussions to reach a fair, sustainable minimum terms agreement as soon as possible.”
