EQUIFLASH [EQUITY RESPONDS RE: CANCELLATION OF HELEN LAWRENCE AT FESTIVAL TRANSAMERIQUES]

[CAEA e-drive]

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EQUITY RESPONDS RE: CANCELLATION OF HELEN LAWRENCE AT FESTIVAL TRANSAMERIQUES
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An issue has arisen regarding the Canadian Stage tour of Helen Lawrence. The production was to tour to the Festival TransAmériques in Montreal, but has now been cancelled. Please see the statement below from Equity's Executive Director Arden R. Ryshpan:

"Canadian Stage's request for an easement to contract terms was received by Equity only after the Helen Lawrence engagement was already underway. Most concession requests are dealt with long before contracts are negotiated so all parties understand the terms in force when signing the contract. Late easement requests place an Equity member in an untenable position as the artist is essentially asked to accept a reduction to the negotiated terms of their contract often for little or nothing in return. 

The concession process is a serious matter for the Association. It involves consultation with Equity staff, the producer, the affected members and senior members in the Equity community. We confirm that the concession process for Helen Lawrence was handled with utmost care and consideration. Equity stands behind all its members and believes that the freely negotiated minimum terms of our agreements should remain in force until a member receives a satisfactory quid pro quo in exchange for reduced financial provisions. Unfortunately in this case, Canadian Stage was unable to offer such satisfactory terms and had to make hard choices as a result. 

Equity's regret in this matter is that if Canadian Stage had asked for the concession before contracting the artists as is appropriate, all of this might have been avoided."

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Equity administers all CTA engagements the same way. Most of the time, there are no issues because the engager has followed the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) and has respected the agreement that has been jointly negotiated between Equity and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) on the engager's behalf. The CTA's concession process was followed the same way in this instance as with every other CTA engagement. Equity is dedicated to protecting the working terms for all its members.

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Related link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/helen-lawrence-shows-at-montreals-festival-transameriques-cancelled/article18098566/

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