THEATRICAL DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22025, 4 February 1935, Page 9

THEATRICAL DISPUTE

CONCILIATION EFFORT LABOUR MINISTRY'S SCHEME British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 1 Both sides in a dispute between West End theatrical managers and the British Association of Members of the Theatrical Profession recently laid their cases before the Ministry of Labour. The principal assistant secretary to the Ministry, Mr. F. W. Leggett, to-day placed before a joint meeting the broad outline of a scheme to enable the difficulties to be settled. A sub-committee representing the parties to the dispute was appointed to examine the scheme.

A cablegram from London on January 22, stated: Mary Ellis, a New York actress and. singer, has cabled refusing the leading part in Ivor Noyello's forthcoming Drury Lane production, "Glamorous Nights'," which has been declared " black " by the British Actors' Equity Association. The Equity Council has rejected a proposal to refer tha dispute to the Ministry of Labour. It arose over tho theatre management's refusal to insert a clause in artists' contracts providing for the exclusion of non-mem-bers of the Equity Association. Representatives of 20 West End theatres have passed a resolution supporting the Drury Lane management in its stand against the " closed shop." Mr. Godfrey Tearle, president of the Equity Association, has sent a letter to members urging them to refuse Drurv Lane contracts except with the consent of the organisation.