LONDON’S West End producers are earning “f***loads of money” while offering minimal pay rises for performers and staff, Equity’s annual conference heard, as an indicative strike ballot closes tomorrow.

The pay-and-conditions row could lead to a summer of disruption to the country’s biggest shows, the performing artists’ union has warned.

Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming told delegates today that there is a real prospect that the Saturday and overtime walkouts will cost West End producers hundreds of thousands of pounds a day.

Opening the conference in Durham Miners’ Hall, Equity president Lynda Rooke said: “The West End is one of our industrial areas that is booming post-pandemic, but our members aren’t seeing the benefits.

“It is absolutely remarkable that in 2026 those who actually do the creative jobs, who work on the coalface of the cultural sector — the vast majority of whom are freelance, who work long hours often away from home — still don’t enjoy the true fruits of their labour.”

Delegates told of how self-employed West End contracts result in hourly pay substantially below the national minimum wage and dangerous working practices.

Producers conflate job roles without agreed contracts, warned Equity’s stage management committee chair Jasmin Davies, who told of being asked to run a 400-volt sound system without training during a recent West End contract as deputy stage manager.

She said: “I found this out on day one on the job and I was being paid the minimum rate. This is not unusual.”

Delegate Kelly Costigan said: “[Crew and performers] should not have to give their own time for producers who are making f***loads of money.”

The Society of London Theatres, which Equity is negotiating with, was contacted for comment.