Pay deal means show goes on

The Haymarket Theatre has seen three strikes

A pay deal between a Leicester theatre and an entertainment union has averted the threat of strike action leading to further cancelled shows.

A performance of Plague of Innocence at the Haymarket Theatre on Wednesday was threatened because of the dispute.

Three shows of its hit musical Hot Stuff were cancelled earlier this month because of industrial action.

But the threat of further walk-outs by members of the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (Bectu) ended when they accepted the theatre's latest pay offer.

Bread line

Theatre managers had earlier offered two per cent to six per cent pay increases, but this was rejected.

Engineers, wardrobe staff and box office workers at the Haymarket Theatre wanted more than that.

They said that many of them were living in poverty because of low pay.

The theatre made a revised offered on Friday and, with the help of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), this was accepted by union members on Tuesday night.

Wednesday's performance will go ahead as planned.