The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
Money Matters - Regional theatre workers have voted to accept pay increases ranging from 3% to 4.7%. The agreement will see a 4.7% increase for workers covered in grades four and five of UK Theatre’s agreement with union BECTU – bringing pay in line with the national minimum wage, which increases in April from £7.50 to £7.83 an hour.
Workers in grades one, two and three will see a 3% increase, meaning their hourly wage will increase by up to 25p, while there will also be a 3% increase for meal expenses, allowances for touring and call out rates. BECTU members voted 90% in favour of the pay offer, which will come into effect from 2 April.
Talks are continuing to update the union’s agreement with UK Theatre, which involves plans for a new pay and grading structure, drawing on information from a pay survey that was launched in December 2017.
Refurbishment - London’s Lyric Hammersmith has announced the first full refurbishment of its main house auditorium in almost 40 years. Last renovated in 1979, the 550-seat Victorian auditorium will undergo ceiling repairs, redecoration and the seats and carpets will be replaced. The Lyric’s studio space will also be modernised as part of the refurbishment, with work on both spaces aiming to maintain safety and improve accessibility and audience comfort, as well as preserve the heritage of the building.
Circus Tragedy - A Cirque du Soleil performer died after falling onto a stage at a weekend show in Florida. Yann Arnaud, 38, had been performing in Cirque shows for 15 years and was one of the company's most experienced entertainers, according to president and chief executive Daniel Lamarre.
Speaking on Mr Arnaud's death, the company said in a statement: "We are offering our full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they look into the circumstances of this accident."
Thankyou for The Music - Irish music giant Liam O'Flynn, who helped form influential folk band Planxty, has died aged 72. The uilleann piper, who collaborated with Kate Bush and Sinead O'Connor, had been suffering from a long illness. The much-loved and admired O'Flynn also played with Enya, Dire Straits frontman Mark Knoplfler and The Everly brothers.
(Jim Evans)
