Equity's first fringe contract

Equity’s first ever contract for fringe theatre, launched this week, will require managements to spend half their income on staff salaries, pay the national minimum wage and guarantee a maximum 40-hour week for performers and creative teams.

The document, which was unveiled at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, also insists companies put all their profits towards wages until the minimum rate of £4.85 an hour for adults over 21 is met.

Many managements were sceptical, however, about the union’s chances of persuading the sector to accept a uniform contract.

More from Nuala Calvi in The Stage.