Theatre unaffected

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 6

Theatre unaffected

Christchurch’s Court Theatre has not been affected by a strike which has closed theatres in Palmerston North and Wellington. Four community theatres in the North Island have been closed because of a strike by backstage workers. Theatre - management and Actors’ • Equity, the union which represents both actors and production staff, are deadlocked in a dispute over award claims for production staff., . ‘ ■: At .Downstage. Theatre in Wellington, 14 actors have been suspended because they

refused to perform during the strike by backstage workers. The dispute has delayed the opening of its next play, “Amadeus.” Striking actors at the Mercury Theatre will return to work today but the whole company has threatened to resign if future negotiations break down through “management inflexibility.” The director of The Court Theatre, Mr Elric Hooper, said that productions at The Court would continue. The theatre had reached an amicable house agreement with its staff until award talks resumed on September 14.