There are a wide range of unions and membership organisations that while working in the theatre indusrty you can join.
However each organisation will administer their own rules and regulations on becoming a member.
SPOTLIGHT
To become a member of Spotlight you will need to have one of the following.
1) To have completed a NCDT accredited course at a drama school.
2) To have 4 professional* credits on your CV.
You will be unable to become a member of Spotlight as a University Graduate.
To apply for membership to Spotlight please visit their website by clicking on the link below.
SPOTLIGHT
EQUITY
Membership of Equity is available through work in the following areas
Theatre
- As a paid performer or stage management.
- As a director, designer or choreographer undertaking paid work in the theatre
Opera and Dance
- As a singer engaged by an opera company as a chorister, principal singer or guest artist
- As a dancer employed by a ballet or dance company
Singers
- As a concert, session or pop singer you need to have evidence of one professional, paid engagement.
Variety and Circus
- As an artist who usually does short term paid engagements or gigs (clubs, festivals, street, pubs, children's entertainment, caberet, storytelling etc) you need to have evidence of four of these within the last 12 months, plus one forthcoming engagement
- As a dancer engaged in a cabaret floorshow or troupe either in the UK or overseas
- As an artist working on a long-term engagement such as on a cruise ship, in a theme park, in a circus or a holiday centre etc
Models
- As a catwalk, photographic or other professional model
Television, Films, Commercials and Radio
-As a performer undertaking work in any of these areas on a standard Equity contract
-As a presenter on television or radio
Walk-on artists
- As a walk-on, supporting or background artist, if you can show evidence of at least six days' paid work over a period of 12 consecutive months undertaken on an Equity agreement. Please note Equity agreements for walk-on, supporting and background artists do not include work on cinema films as these are by the FFA, as are independent TV productions filmed within a 40 mile radius of Charing Cross in London. Therefore we unfortunately cannot accept work on these types of productions as a means of joining Equity.
Overseas Experience
- if you have worked professionally overseas and can provide proof of your employment, together with details of membership, if any of the relevant union in the country or countries concerned you are eligble for membership of Equity.
This applies to UK and EU citizens, or to those from other countries who have been granted premission to work in the UK.
To apply for membership to Equity please visit their website by clicking on the link below.
CASTING CALL PRO
To become a member of Casting Call Pro you will need to have one of the following.
1) To have completed a NCDT accredited course at a drama school.
2) To have 3 professional* credits on your CV.
3) To be a full member of Equity
To apply for membership to Casting Call Pro please visit their website by clicking on the link below.
CASTING CALL PRO
THE ACTORS CENTRE
To become a member of The Actors Centre you will need to have one of the following.
1) To have completed a NCDT accredited course at a drama school.
2) To have worked professionally for 3 years
To apply for membership to The Actors Centre please visit their website by clicking on the link below.
THE ACTORS CENTRE
* A professional credit is defined to be a paid job that has a minimum performance run of three weeks. Any productions with a running length of under 3 weeks is considered 'non professional'
The role must be a speaking part.
The role must be credited in the program or working TV titles.
A non professional role is considered to be working as an extra with no speaking lines, a school, college or university production and/or an amateur performance.
THE CASTING WEBSITE
The Casting Website is a Casting Directory exclusive to Actors aged under 21.
To become a member of The Casting Website, no previous acting experience is necessary; however, you must first pass an Intake Audition and be identified as having reached a certain standard of performance ability.
Intake Auditions are held in front of an experienced independent industry professional on behalf of The Casting Website and take place regularly in all regions of the UK.
To apply for one of the Intake Auditions please visit The Casting Website by clicking the link below.
CASTING WEBSITE